Author: F. E. Austin

Publisher:

Published: 2015-06-28

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13: 9781330460177

Excerpt from Directions for Designing, Making, and Operating High Transformers Pressure Transformers Electric power, at a high pressure, is at present a commercial demand and necessity; the considerations in favor of direct-current power at high pressure are, with the present forms of construction, fewer than those favoring alternating high pressure power. The one consideration above all others in favor of "alternating-current" power, is the simplicity, and economy with which the alternating-pressure, (constituting one factor of the power) may be increased or decreased in magnitude; or in common engineering parlance: - "stepped up" or "stepped down," from a low to a high or from a high to a low value respectively. The device employed to accomplish the stepping up or stepping down process is the so-called transformer, which is a really wonderful piece of apparatus, when considered as an energy device. It should be remembered that a transformer cannot be operated on direct-current circuits; but only by being connected with circuits in which the current is continuously undergoing regular changes in value; that is, by alternating-currents. The term "transformer" is perhaps a misnomer when used in connection with the now common device; since energy is not transformed by the device from one form into another form; but a certain percent of the electrical energy supplied to the device is given out by it with simply a change in the magnitude of the two factors of electrical power: - pressure and current. The device might more aptly be called a transmuter; from the Latin trans (meaning across) and mutare, (meaning to change across or to carry over). The electric power is simply carried across, through the medium of the so-called transformer, from one electric circuit to another. A transformer might then be defined as a device for the exchange of electric power from one alternating-current circuit to another, with a desired change in electric pressure. As will be evident later, a transformer consists essentially of two electric circuits interlinked by a magnetic circuit. A chain consisting of three links, the middle link representing the magnetic circuit, and the two outer links representing the two electrical circuits; one the primary and the other the secondary. Since a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, so the commercial value of a transformer is determined by its weakest part. The mechanical simplicity of a transformer is remarkable; containing no moving parts; and although at times receiving and delivering energy at the rate of thousands of horse-power, it requires very little care and maintenance. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.