Why transformer core is laminated

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Skip to content. Electrical Engineering Questions. April 21, admin 1 Comment. Eddy current loss is one of the core losses that affect the performance of a transformer by heating from electromagnetic induction. An Eddy current is a closed loop of electrical current induced within a conductive material due to a changing magnetic field. But as the core is metallic or made of a conductive material that is placed inside a changing magnetic field an eddy current will be definitely produced in it.

These currents generate heating in the core and result in power loss in a transformer in the form of heat energy. So, in order to reduce eddy current loss, the circulating current need to be minimized by increasing the core resistance. The code resistance can be increased by making the core with thin laminated sheets. The lamination creates insulation between each sheet which makes each sheet a separate electrical conductor but lets the magnetic flux to pass.

So, compared to a single block of the core, thin laminated sheets increase the resistance of the core and thereby reduces the amount of current flowing through the core.

Whereas a solid core results in excessive eddy current and heat loss. Higher frequency electronic applications are specially made with very thin material with application suitable varnish in between sheet layers to give a thin coat of insulation and better performance.

These cores are laminated and reduced to a minimum as they obstruct the efficient power transmission of energy from primary to the secondary coil. Laminated cores are used rather than solid cores to prevent these eddy currents flowing through circulating currents which have been set by magnetic fields that can break down cores into sheets each coated with insulating material that does not conduct electricity and allows eddy currents to flow.

The transformer core needs to be laminated to reduce the eddy current that has arisen from the induced voltages through the core, thereby reducing the heat loss of the entire core. Therefore the transformer core is laminated to minimize the eddy currents flowing through it. The transformer core made from E and I lamination transformer core made from e and I lamination eddy currents are generated in a transformer core which heats the core and causes losses by altering the current.

The region is reduced as lamination is given thus the resistance becomes very strong and the current becomes restricted to a small value. Since the amount of the current will always be less than by using a core. Unless we had lamination, the iron core would provide the magnetic lines with a place to generate induced currents and this flow in the center would very rapidly heat up the core and waste energy.

Reducing the loss caused by eddy currents. Loss caused by eddy current lamination helps to reduce by minimizing the entire cross-section area through electrical insulation by varnish coating. Light Weight. It therefore does not get such big a currents induced in it. If you look at the photo below of a school demo transformer you can see the laminations quite clearly.

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