821

MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF SINGLE-PHASE

TRANSFORMER INCLUDING THE MAIN FLUX
SATURATION EFFECT

Vivek Pahwa And Dr. K. S. Sandhu


Abstract: This paper includes a fast and stable approach
for the simulation of transformer including the effect of
main flux saturation. The solution of the transformer
nonlinear mathematical model is carried out using the
MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. A close comparison
of experimental and simulated results confirms the validity
of approach adopted. The proposed approach is found to
be sufficient to accurately simulate the transformer
behavior under open circuit and short circuit conditions.

1 Introduction

Some of the transformer models are based on the analysis of
the, electromagnetic field in the transformer [1-4]. Another
approach is to model the transformer using lumped circuit
models [5-7]. The first approach tends to represent the
transformer using two separate equivalent circuits, one for
the magnetic circuit and the other representing the
transformer electric circuit. In the second approach, the
magnetic behavior and characteristics are modelled in a
single electrical circuit with nonlinear inductors with the
nonlinear characteristics being a function of each nonlinear
inductor current.
From the implementation point of view, the main
difficulties of using lumped circuit models are: first, the
equivalent circuit will become quite complicated and
secondly, the resulting impedance matrices might become
ill-conditioned for certain network connections.

Assistance Professor
Haryana College of
Technology & Management,
Kaithal, Haryana, India

Professor
National Institute of Technology,
Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

The proposed method is found to be stable and accurate for
transformer open circuit and short circuit simulations. The
proposed method has major advantage that the model is
linearised using the state variable, it can be easily
implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK. Further the method
has been experimentally verified.
2 Mathematical Model
A mathematical model [8] of a two-winding transformer has
been implemented, taking total flux linkages of the two
winding as the state variables, using
MATLAB/SIMULINK. In terms of these two state
variables, the voltage equations can be written as:






Fig.1:Equivalent circuit of a two-winding transformer
(referred to stator winding side)
dt
d
w
r i v
b
1
1 1 1
1
+ = (1)


dt
d
w
r i v
b
2
2 2 2
1
+ = (2)
where
2 2 , 1 1

b b
= = and
b
is the base
frequency at which the reactances are computed. The flux
linkage per second of the windings can be expressed as

m B
i x + = =
1 11 1 1
(3)
XXXII NATIONAL SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, NSC 2008, December 17-19, 2008

822

m b
i x + = =
2 12 2 2
(4)
and
( ) ( )
2 1 2 1
i i x i i L
m m b m
+ = + = (5)
where
m
is associated with the magnetizing inductance
referred to winding 1.
The current
1
i can be expressed in terms of
1
and
m
using Eq. 3. Similarly
2
i can be expressed in terms of
2
and
m
using Eq. 4.

11
1
1
x
i
m

= (6)

12
2
2
` x
i
m

= (7)
Substituting the above expressions
1
i and
2
i into Eq. 5, we
obtain

12
2
11
1
` x x x
m m
m
m

+

= (8)
Collecting the
m
terms to the right, we obtain the desired
expression of
m
in terms of the two desired states, that is
12
2
11
1
12 11
` `
1 1 1
x x x x x
m
m

+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + (9)
Letting
12 11
`
1 1 1 1
x x x X
m
+ + = (10)

Eq. 9 can be written more compactly as

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
12
2
11
1
`
`
x x
X
m

(11)
Using Eqs. 6 and 7 to replace the currents, Eqs. 1 and 2 can
be expressed as integral equations in terms of the flux
linkages, that is

)
`

|
|
.
|

\
|
= dt
x
r w v
m
b b
11
1
1 1 1

(12)

)
`

|
|
.
|

\
|
= dt
x
r v
m
b b
12
2
2 2 2
`
`
` `

(13)
Collectively, Eqs. 6,7,11,12 and 13 form a basic dynamic
model of a two-winding transformer.

2.1 Core-Saturation Effect

Core saturation mainly affects the value of the mutual
inductance and, to a much lesser extent, the leakage
inductances. Though small, the effects of saturation on the
leakage reactances are rather complex and would require
constructional details of the transformer that are not
generally available. In many dynamic simulations, the
effect of core saturation may be assumed to be confined to
the mutual flux path. Core saturation behavior can be
determined from just the open-circuit magnetization curve
of the transformer. The open-circuit curve, such as that
shown in Fig. 2 is usually obtained by
plotting the measured rms value of the
terminal voltage against the no-load
current drawn on winding 1 when the
secondary terminal is open-circuited. The
effects of core saturation in a dynamic simulation have been
included after in corporating the relationship between
saturated and unsaturated values of the mutual flux linkage,
i.e. rewriting Eq. (5) as:
( ) ( )
2 1 2 1
` ` i i x i i L
unsat
m
unsat
m b
unsat
m
+ = + = (14)

Similarly, in terms of the saturated flux linkages, the
saturated value of the winding currents can be expressed as:

11
1
1
x
i
sat
m

= (15)

823

12
2
2
`
`
`
x
i
sat
m

= (16)
Substituting the above expressions of
1
i and
2
` i in Eq. (14),
we obtain

12
2
11
1
`
`
x x x
sat
m
sat
m
unsat
m
unsat
m

+

=
(17)

Note that the values of
1
and
2
` in Eqs. 16 to 17 are
saturated values. Replacing
unsat
m
by
sat
m
+ and
collecting the
sat
m
terms, we obtain

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + =
unsat
m
sat
m
x x x
X
1 12
2
11
1
`
`


(18)
where the value of
M
x is as in Eq. 10 for the unsaturated
case, that is
12 11
`
1 1 1 1
x x x X
unsat
m
+ + = (19)






(a)Magnetization Curve (b) Saturated /unsaturated
flux linkage
Fig 2: Saturation characteristics


3. Results and Discussion

The model has been tested on single-phase transformer
[Appendix 1]. Simulation results as obtained as shown in
Fig. (4) to Fig. (5).
The parameters of a two-winding transformer have been
identified with the help of conventional test (i.e. open-
circuit and short-circuit test)

3.1 Short circuit test
As expected the referred short circuit voltage
2
` v is zero as
shown in Fig 4(b). And, the reduced voltage of 13 V(r.m.s.)
has been applied and rated current of 8.6 A is flowing
through the primary winding. (refer Fig. 4(c).


Fig. 4: Result of short circuit test(with saturation effect):


Fig. 5 : Result of open circuit test(with saturation effect):

3.2 Open Circuit test

It can be observed from the Fig 5(d) that the output current
2
` i is zero. And this is the required result from the open
circuit test.

The comparison of simulated and experimental results have
been given in table (all the quantities are in r.m.s. values):


824
Short circuit test Open circuit test
Items
Experimental Simulated Experimental
Simulate
d
Primary Voltage,
( ) v v
1

13.8 13.8 115V 115V
Secondary
referred voltage
( ) . . , `
2
s m r v v

0 0 115V 115V
Secondary
referred current
( ) . . , `
2
s m r A i

8.6 8.6 0 0

Table 1: Comparison of simulated and experimental results.
4. Conclusion
It is applied to a model of two winding transformer using
MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. In this paper an effort
is made to propose a suitable approach for the simulation of
transformer including saturation effect. Close agreement
of simulated results with experimental results as obtained on
a test transformer proves the validity of proposed modeling.
This approach may be helpful to include the saturation
effect in other machines also.

5. Acknowledgement

The author wishes to express his sincere gratitude to
H.C.T.M., Kaithal for the support. The author would like to
thank Dr. S.C. Gupta for his valuable suggestions.

6. References

1 Elleuch, M., and Poloujadoff, M.: A contribution
to the modeling of three phase transformers using
reluctances, IEEE Trans. on Magn.,
1996, 32, pp. 335343.

2 Ludwig, G.W., and El-Hamamsy, S.A.: Coupled
inductance and reluctance models of magnetic
Components, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., 1991,
6, pp. 240250.

3 Elleuch, M., and Poloujadoff, M.: Anisotropy in
three phase transformer circuit model, IEEE
Trans. Magn., 1997, 33, pp. 4319 4326.

4 de Leon, F., and Semlyen, A.: Efficient
calculation of elementary parameters of
transformers, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv., 1992, 7,
pp. 427432.

5 Chua, L.O., and Stromsmoe, K.A.: Lumped-
circuit models for Nonlinear inductors Exhibiting
hysteresis loops, IEEE Trans. Circ. Theory, 1970,
17, pp. 564574

6 Neves, W.L., Dommel, H.W., and Xu, WILSUN:
Practical distribution transformer models for
harmonic studies, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv.,
1995, 10, pp. 906912

7 Mork, B.A.: Five-legged wound-core transformer
model: derivation, parameters, implementation and
evaluation, IEEE Trans. Power
Deliv., 1999, 14, pp. 15191526

8. Ong, C.M. :Dynamic simulation of Electric
machinery, Prantice Hall, Upper Saddle River,
NJ, 1998.



825
Appendix 1
Transformer data.
1KVA, 230/115V, 50Hz, Single phase core type
transformer.



Nomenclature

1
v ,
2
` v = primary applied voltage,
secondary referred voltage
1
i ,
2
` i = primary current, secondary
refereed current
1
r ,
2
` r = primary winding resistance,
secondary referred
resistance
b
w = base frequency
m
x = Mutual reactance
1 xl
,
2
` xl = primary winding reactance,
secondary referred
reactance
1
,
2
,
m
= primary, secondary and
mutual flux
linkage
unsat
m
,
unsat
m
L ,
unsat
m
x = unsaturated mutual flux
linkage, inductance and
reactance respectively
sat
m
= saturated mutual flux
linkage
= change in flux linkage