The transformer is mainly a passive electrical element that helps to reduce or increase the voltage level in a circuit. Transformers are very useful in electricity distribution services as well as in industries. There are many types of transformers used as per the condition required. Transformers are used from toys to large industrial machines. So here are two types of transformers discussed. Here are some basic differences between a power transformer and a distribution transformer
The power transformer also has very few copper and iron losses. It is due to the reason that it does not have any direct connection with the customers or it is not at the end-user. It is mainly used in industries, power generation stations, and transmission substations. Here the voltage is stepped down and then provided to the distribution transformers for further stepping down and distribution of current.
What is Distribution Transformer?
Distribution transformers are small transformers in comparison to power transformers. These are used in electricity distributing networks. They are used in the last stage of the distributing system. They step down the voltages that are to be supplied to the customers. They are normally used on poles or underground.
These transformers are mainly used in the end-user area. That is, after this transformer, the output current and voltages is directly supplied to the customers. So due to this reason, the copper and iron losses of these transformers are higher. There are many types of distributing transformers based on the insulating material between the coils, the phases, etc. based on the insulating material. The transformers are classified into liquid and dry forms. On the basis of the phases, the transformers are classified as three-phase and one-phase transformers.
The power rating of distributing transformers is lower than 200 MVA. They are also smaller in size in comparison to power transformers. They are fixed on poles and also on the ground. Their main work is to step down the voltage and increase the current and supply it to the consumers. These are mainly used in the electricity distribution system.
Main Differences Between Power Transformer and Distribution Transformer
- The power transformer is used in the transmission of high step-up and steps down voltages, and the distribution transformer is used in the transmission of lower voltage distribution networks for end-user connectivity.
- The power rating of the power transformer is higher than 200 MVA. On the other hand, the power rating of the distributive transformer is lower than 200 MVA.
- Metal losses of the Power transformer are very less as it does not have any direct contact with customers, but the metal loss in the distribution transformer is very high due to load differences due to end-user connectivity.
- The power transformer is larger in comparison to the distribution transformer, and the distribution transformer is smaller in comparison to the power transformer.
- The power transformer is used in mainly power generation stations and transmission substations, whereas the distribution transformer is mainly used in industrial and domestic power distribution.
Conclusion
The transformer is mainly a passive electrical element that helps to decrease or increase the voltage level in a circuit. There are many types of transformers. Mainly iron core and copper core transformers are more famous. The transformers discussed above that are power transformers, and distribution transformers are mainly used in different stages of the electric distribution system.
The transformers work on the basis of faraday’s law and transfer the voltages by electric induction methods. So an idea about the transformers helps a lot to know about the electricity distribution and the electric poles in our local areas how they work.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1546802/
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QDFdDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP9&dq=Power+Transformer+And+Distribution+Transformer&ots=7182Evkbnz&sig=8Y98SwGNqm2Af-Kb9lOpw2yVqJI