The transformer is designed to convert alternating voltage, and is also used for the purpose of galvanic isolation. The device is used in radio engineering, electric power industry and electronics. Represents one or more tape or wire windings, which are affected by a magnetic field. They are wound on a small core, which is also a magnetic core.
Who invented the transformer?
In 1848, the Frenchman G. Ruhmkorf came up with an induction coil of a special design. This invention was the prototype of the modern transformer. The mechanic got high voltage fluctuations by using this coil. There was a need to somehow turn direct current into alternating current. Based on this, Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff used a special breaker that switched in series with the coil.
When a short circuit occurred, the voltage rose in the secondary winding. It exceeded the voltage in the primary as much as the number of turns on the secondary was greater. The interruption device was a small spring plate. The more often shewas used, the higher the voltage. In order for the plate to open the circuit, a magnetic field was needed, which was created by the core. The Ruhmkorff coil was widely used in the 70s of the twentieth century.
Modern transformer
G. Ruhmkorff was the one who invented the transformer. His idea was brought to perfection by the scientist P. N. Yablochkov, who presented his creation in 1876. As a core, he used a special rod, on which the windings were already wound. To interrupt the direct current, the scientist used not a spring plate, but induction coils.
All primary windings were put into operation in series and gave out the amount of voltage that was needed. In the secondary, lamps were used that worked on incoming energy. Later it was noted that it is possible to reduce energy losses. To do this, it is necessary to put both coils on the core - primary and secondary.
It is important to know by whom and when the first transformer was invented in order not to mistakenly assume that it was invented by Yablochkov. The scientist brought the development to mind to make it more convenient to use.
The development of the scientist was a device with open cores. Later, a new type is created - with closed ones, which was developed by the Hopkinson brothers. The discovery helped to greatly reduce energy costs. The principle of operation was that high voltage and low voltage coils were alternately placed on the core. The rod itself is made of wires and steel strips that are separatedspecial insulating material.
Types of transformers
Thanks to whoever invented transformers, today there are different categories of these devices:
- Voltage boost - low voltage is increased significantly at the output.
- Voltage-reducing - a large voltage comes in, and a small one comes out. Such a system is necessary in places with voltage drops. These are the most common designs.
- Single-phase and three-phase - and three single-phase transformers may well do the work of a three-phase one. Since one three-phase transformer, in fact, consists of three single-phase.
- Forced and natural cooling.
What is the need for transformers?
To compensate for the heat radiation lost during current transmission, power plants generate very high voltage, which is not needed in such quantities by most devices. In such cases, the transformer comes in handy. It regulates the voltage by increasing it during transmission and then decreasing it on the way to the user. Otherwise, all the equipment would not have withstood the onslaught of such enormous power and would have burned down or exploded.
Also, electrical appliances are equipped with transformers in everyday life, as they constantly need different voltages through several streams. Today, the device is used in computers and televisions. It is necessary to thank the one who invented the transformer, because without himmost of the devices would not be able to work normally. At best, we would be surrounded by devices operating not at low (safe) voltage, but at high.
Many types of such products are important in everyday life. In order not to be shocked, an isolation transformer is most often used, which reduces this risk. In order to measure constantly changing voltage, this device is also used. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the population during power surges. Separate types (current transformers) are used to measure the amount of energy consumed.
