• Inefficiencies in a transformer appear not from just the core, but also in the wires
• The coils of wire have resistance
  • This causes heat energy to be lost from the current flowing through the coils
  • The larger the current, the greater the amount of heat energy lost

   

• In the core, the inefficiencies appear from:
  • Induced eddy currents
  • The reversal of magnetism
  • Poor insulation between the primary and secondary coil

   

• Ways to reduce energy loss in a transformer are:
  • Making the core from soft iron or iron alloys to allow easy magnetisation and demagnetisation and reduce hysteresis loss
  • Laminating the core
  • Using thick wires, especially in the secondary coil of step-down transformers
  • Using a core that allows all the flux due to the primary coil to be linked to the secondary coil

   

• Energy losses due to the heating of transmission lines in the National Grid are significant
• This is because the electrical energy is transmitted across long distances from power stations to buildings
  • This is not just within the UK, but also to other countries such as France and the Netherlands

   

• Transformers are used to?step up?the voltage generated in power stations
• Since power transmitted is the product of the voltage and current, stepping up the voltage?reduces?the current
  • Smaller currents have a smaller heating effect on the wires
  • This reduces energy loss to the surroundings from the wires
  • Therefore, this improves the efficiency of the electrical energy and power transmitted through the wires

   

• Power losses from the current are calculated using the equation:

P?=?I2R

• Where:
  • P?= power (W)
  • I?= current (A)
  • R?= resistance (Ω)

   

• The equation shows that:
  • P?∝?I2
  • This means?doubling?the current produces?four?times the power loss

   

• Therefore, step-up transformers are used to increase the voltage which decreases the current through transmission lines
  • This reduces the overall heat energy lost in the wires during transmission

   

• A step-down transformer is then used to decrease the voltage to that required in homes and buildings

The use of step-up and step-down transformers in the National Grid

Step 1: List the known quantities

• • Current,?I?= 2500 A
  • Length of cables,?L?= 150 km = 150 × 103?m
  • Resistance of the cables,?R?= 0.15 Ω km-1

   

Step 2: Write out the power equation

P?=?I2R

Step 3: Determine the total resistance,?R

R?= Resistance of the wires × Length of wires

R?= 0.15 × 150

Step 4: Substitute values into the power equation

Power lost = (2500)2?× (0.15 × 150) =?141 MW