Power Transformers and Their Roles across Industries

by Rohan Sinha Author

What are power transformers?

According to Wikipedia, “A transformer is an electrical device that transfers electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction produces an electromotive force within a conductor which is exposed to time varying magnetic fields. Transformers are used to increase or decrease the alternating voltages in electric power applications.”

The first constant potential transformer was invented way back in 1885. From then on, transformers went on to become an intrinsic part of the whole electrical infrastructure. Today, transformers are designed in a wide range of sizes and capabilities, from RF transformers with less than a cubic centimeter in volume to units might weight hundreds of tons.

Application areas

Broadly speaking, power transformer manufacturers design and build transformers for, a) Rural Electrification, b) Industry / Urban Electrification, and c) Solar and Wind Farms.

Transformers are used across industries for urban & rural electrification, high-voltage distribution systems, solar & wind farms, commercial complexes, metros and railways.

While designing transformers for rural, harsh site conditions, power transformer companies do plan in advance for protecting the transformers from line faults, surges, overloading, theft and lighting. Some companies offer protection to their transformers by oil immersed internal circuit breaker & MCCB in externally mounted box.

Challenges (as far as bringing electricity to rural India is concerned)

Electricity is still a distant dream for hundreds of villages in India. What makes it difficult to bring electricity to these villages is the lack of electrical infrastructure.

As per the Washington Post, 304 million Indians (24 percent of the population) are still without electricity. And most of this population without electricity lives in rural and remote areas of India. Poverty, lack of planning, political will and resources and electricity theft are the common factors that have kept many villages from the development and comfort that often come with electricity.

The Indian government, however, is doing its best to reach out to more and more villages with electricity. It is investing heavily in green energy programs including The JNN solar mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Vidyut yojna. The idea is to generate as much clean energy as possible and distribute the same to the remote corners of the country. It is also working on reducing wastage and encouraging power transformer manufacturers to innovate better equipment to improve the overall infrastructure for electrical transmissions in villages and other remote areas of the country. Currently, more than 95% of villages in India have been electrified – the goal now is to provide complete electrification by 2020.

About Author

I think a lot. And I write a lot. Issues that bother India bother me as well. So I write quite extensively on poverty, politics, green energy, and the transformation that industries in this country are going through including the power industry. I’m planning to write a couple more articles on power transformers manufacturers and companies that are behind the ‘electricity for all’ mission. So please be part of this journey.