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Transformer model based on admittance

inverter
Conference Paper May 2013

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Warsaw University of Technology
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The 8th International Conference on

Electrical and Control Technologies
May 2-3, Kaunas, Lithuania

TRANSFORMER MODEL BASED ON ADMITTANCE INVERTER

Adam ABRAMOWICZ*
*Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Electronic Systems, Poland

Steinmetz circuit includes an ideal transformer thus a

non-existing element. The ideal transformer is a useful
tool in circuit modelling of many structures and systems.
It has a very simple chain matrix that corresponds to real
transformer properties: isolation between windings,
transformation of voltages and currents. The ideal
transformer parameters are constant in frequency and
time. They do not depend on magnitude thus describe a
perfect, linear element. The ideal transformer shown in
Fig.1 belongs to the class of abstract models. Its chain
matrix is as follows:

Abstract: The transformer theory based on impedance

inverter with inductances is well known and quite
successful in describing electrical properties of power as
well as RF transformers. Any circuit theory textbook has
at least several pages on transformers modelled with
mutual inductances i.e. impedance inverter. In many
cases up to 10% of the student book is devoted to
transformers and mutual inductances. Thus writing
about a new model of transformer is quite surprising and
may be annoying. But there are some aspects of the
existing theory, which are not consistent with the
transformer physical properties. In the paper basic facts
on magnetic field distribution and its relation to
transformer model are given. And first of all a new
model of transformer based on admittance inverter
consisting with inductances is presented.

1 / p
A=
0

(1)

where: transformer turns ratio p (p=Ns/Np, number of

turns in secondary and primary winding) is defined as:

Keywords: transformer, magnetic coupling, impedance

inverter, admittance inverter.
1. Introduction
A transformer is a device that transfers energy between
its magnetically (inductively) coupled windings. A
varying current in the primary winding creates varying
magnetic flux in the transformer core and consequently
varying magnetic flux through the secondary winding.
As a result one can observe varying voltage and current
in the secondary winding. A long list of great
researchers contributed to the discovery, design and
theory of transformers staring from Michael Faraday [1]
and Joseph Henry and ending with Karoly Zipernovsky,
Otto Blathy and Miksa Deri (ZBD) [2], William Stanley
[3] and Charles Proteus Steinmetz [4]. The discovery of
electromagnetic induction and development of
transformers as well as development of their theory were
done in nineteen century. Nowadays transformers range
in size from thumbnail-sized units hidden in
microphones to units weighing hundreds of tons used in
the power grid. A wide range of transformer designs are
used in electronic and electric power applications.
Transformers are essential for the transmission,
distribution, and utilization of electric power. The

U1
= 1/ p
U2

(2)

I1
=p
I2

(3)

Fig. 1. An ideal transformer

For the ideal transformer the ratio of input voltage to

output voltage and ratio of input current to output
current are independent from both source resistance RG
and load resistance R. In real transformers such ratios
depend on load resistance and source resistance.
Moreover the transformer parameters depend on
frequency and signal level. Due to non-physical
properties the ideal transformer is a reference model
used to compare and classify other linear transformer

154

models. In this paper the models of linear transformer

transformer employing impedance inverter with
inductances (i.e. mutually coupled inductances) is well
known and commonly used. The new transformer
model employing admittance inverter with inductances
is introduced. The properties of both models are
compared and discussed.

based on inverters are considered. The model of

= 1 k2
(6)
Additionally one can remember that turns ratio p is
related to inductances of primary and secondary winding
as follows:

L2
L1

p=

2. Mutually coupled inductances

A most popular linear model of the transformer is based
on mutually coupled inductances. Mutually coupled
inductances are in fact an impedance inverter. The
transformer circuit with mutually coupled inductances is
shown in Fig.2.

(7)

Let us compare the chain matrix (1) with the chain

matrix of the model in Fig.3 given below.
A=

1
j M

j L1

2 M 2 / k2

j L2

(8)

The ABCD matrix (8) transformed according to (7) is

somehow similar to (1) but its off diagonal elements are
not zero.
Fig. 2. Model of transformer based on mutually coupled
inductances

A=

When inductances are coupled the obvious circuit is

assumed with parallel mutual inductance M introduced
between inductances L1 and L2 resulting in T-type
circuit. The same model drawn with impedance inverter
is presented in Fig. 3.

I2 =

S. B. Cohn introduced immittance inverters in 1957 [5].

He used them for design of microwave direct-coupled
filters. Inverters are closely related to the gyrator [6].
Inverters are used to describe couplings between
resonators and transmission lines. The circuits with
inverters are very convenient in creating their
immittance matrices. The circuit in Fig. 3 can be
described with the following equations defining the
impedance matrix parameters:
U1 = j L1I1 + j MI 2
(4a)

M
L1L2

k
I1
p

(10)

For open circuit (RL=):

U 2 = kpU1

(11)

The short circuit condition applied to the secondary

winding results in strange behaviour of magnetic flux in
the transformer core and disagreement between the
model and observations. As can be seen in [7] and in
many papers on computations of electromagnetic field
distribution in the transformer core [8-9] the magnetic
flux tends to zero in the area of short-circuited
secondary winding. In [7] measurements show that in
the core on primary side the magnetic flux is high, while
in the core on the secondary side the magnetic flux is
small. Certainly this is different than theory resulting
from equations given e.g. (4a). Under short-circuit
condition (4a) produces U1 close to zero (I2 = I1, and
M = L1 for a transformer with p = 1) while it is not
observed in reality. The problem of magnetic field
(magnetic flux) distribution is know from twenties of the

(4b)

It is convenient to define the coupling coefficient k and

leakage coefficient .

k=

(9)

Even assuming that k =1, it is clear that mutually

coupled inductances are not equivalent to ideal
transformer because it is impossible to specify first
= 0 and then M infinite. These two conditions
contradict each other. They are non-physical. Anyway
the transformer model based on impedance inverter is
used all over the world.
By changing the load resistance RL between 0 and
infinity it is possible to obtain ratio of currents and
voltages on primary and secondary windings. For short
circuit (RL=0):

Fig. 3. Model of transformer based on impedance inverter.

Diamonds with arrows are current controlled voltage sources

U 2 = j MI1 + j L2 I 2

j M / k

1 1/ p

k k / j M

(5)

155

previous century [10-11] but finally neglected and

underestimated [13]. Now when electromagnetic
modelling is common one can analyze transformer
behaviour completely.

voltages on primary and secondary windings. For short

circuit (RL=0):

I2 =

k
I1
p

(16)

2. New model of transformer

For open circuit (RL=):

It is possible to create another models of a transformer.

Let us consider a transformer as a transducer, which
converts input current into output current. In such a way
one can use admittance inverter [5,14] to model
transformer properties. The admittance inverter should
base on inductances because the transformer operates
due to magnetic fields. The new transformer model
based on admittance inverter is shown in Fig. 4. In the
model Ls denotes coupling inductance. Other parameters
are the same as in the classical model.

U 2 = kpU1

(17)

The basic properties of the new transformer are the same

as in the ideal transformer and mutually coupled
inductances cases. The short circuit condition applied to
the secondary winding does not results in a strange
behaviour of magnetic flux in the transformer because
U2 is equal to zero and there is no influence of the
secondary winding on primary side. Zero voltage means
zero of the magnetic flux, which is in agreement with
observations and simulations.

3. Comparison of models
A comparison of basic parameters of transformer
models presented above is given in Table 1. Both
models predict the same ratio of currents and voltages.
When one assumes ideal coupling i.e. coupling
coefficients equal to 1 the ratio of currents and voltages
is the same as in ideal transformer. The only, but quite
important, difference between impedance inverter and
admittance inverter is in input impedances. For shortcircuited secondary winding the input impedance of the
transformer modelled with impedance inverter is zero
(k=1). For short-circuited secondary winding the input
impedance of the transformer modelled with admittance
inverter I equal to impedance of the primary winding.
For open-circuited secondary winding the input
impedance of the transformer modelled with impedance
inverter is equal to impedance of the primary winding.
For open-circuited secondary winding the input
impedance of the transformer modelled with admittance
inverter is infinite (kS=1).

Fig. 4. Model of transformer based on admittance inverter.

Double-line diamonds with arrows are voltage controlled
current sources

The circuit in Fig. 4 can be described with the following

equations defining the admittance matrix parameters:

I1 =

1
1
U1 +
U2
jL1
jLs

(12a)

I2 =

1
1
U1 +
U2
jLs
jL2

(12b)

It is convenient to define the coupling coefficient kS.

kS =

L1 L2

(13)

LS

The leakage coefficient is defined according to (6)

= 1 kS 2

Table 1. Comparison of transformer models

model with
model with
impedance inverter admittance inverter
ratio of voltages
U 2 = kpU1
U 2 = k S pU1

(14)

and transformer ratio p is the same as (7).

The ABCD matrix of the new model is as follows and it
has again the off diagonal elements different than zero.
AS =

1/ p
1

k S / j LS k S

j LS k S

ratio of currents
short circuit at
secondary
winding
open circuit at
secondary
winding

(15)

Even assuming that kS = 1, it is clear that admittance

inverter is not equivalent to ideal transformer because it
is impossible to specify first = 0 and then LS = 0.
These two conditions contradict each other. They are
non-physical. But this time the model agrees with the
magnetic flux distribution in the transformers core.
By changing the load resistance RL between 0 and
infinity it is possible to obtain ratio of currents and

I2 =

k
I1
p

Z in = jL1 (1 k 2 )
Z in = jL1

I2 =

kS
I1
p

Z in = jL1
Z in =

jL1k S
(1 k S 2 )

The models are different. They have the same

characteristic parameters except input impedances. In
some cases especially at radio frequencies the measured
impedances are closer to the model with admittance
inverter. Both models ca be easily appended with losses,

156

although it is somehow easier to calculate influence of

lossy windings in the model with admittance inverters.
The circuit model with impedance inverter can be
presented in the form of a T-circuit comprising mutually
coupled inductances. The circuit model with admittance
inverter can be presented in the form of a -circuit. But
it should be stressed that a transformation of the Tcircuit corresponding to the impedance inverter into its
-circuit representation employing Star-Triangle
transformation produces different -circuit than that
representing the model with the admittance inverter.

6. Tellegen D.: The gyrator, a new electric network

element, Philips Research Reports 3, 1948, pp. 81
7. Alfas S.: Basic electric quantities updated in nonabstract terms, Proc. PIERS 1991, Cambridge 1991,
pp.470-476
8. Stojkov M., Damir Sljivac D., Jozsa L.: Electric and
magnetic field computation of 35 kv voltage level of
transformer substation 35/10 kv using the cdegs
software, Acta Electrotechnica et Informatica, Vol.
10, No. 4, 2010, pp. 6468
9. Tsili M.A., Kladas A.G., Georgilakis P.S., Souflaris

A.T., Paparigas D.G.: Wound Core Power

Transformer Design: Classical Methodology and
Advanced Magnetic Field Analysis Techniques,
Advanced Research Workshop on Modern
Transformers, ARWtr 2004, 28 -30 October 2004,
Vigo Spain, pp. 23-28
10. McEachron K.B.: Magnetic flux distribution in
transformers, A.I.E.E. Trans., vol. 41, 1922, pp. 247261
11. Dahl O.G.C: Separate leakage reactance of
transformer windings, A.I.E.E. Trans., vol. 44, 1925,
pp. 787-791
12. Boyajian A.: Resolution of transformer reactance
into primary and secondary reactances, A.I.E.E.
Trans., vol. 44, 1922, pp. 805-810
13. E.E. Staff of MIT: Magnetic Circuits and
Transformers, John Wiley & Sons, New York 1943
14. Abramowicz A.: Analysis of coupled dielectric
resonators by means of eigenfrequency method, Proc.
24th European Microwave Conf., Cannes 1994, pp.
11971202
15. Dixon L.: Deriving the equivalent electrical circuit
from the magnetic device physical properties,
Unitrode Corporation Seminar, Oct. 1994, pp. R3-1R3-6

4. Conclusions
In the paper a new model of a transformer is presented.
The new model is based on admittance inverter. The
reason for introducing the new model is to find better
agreement between magnetic flux distribution in the
transformer core and the circuit description of
transformer. Although the circuit and equations are
different the obtained model has basic parameters the
same as a traditionally used model with mutually
coupled inductances. The difference is in the input
impedance of the transformer. The new model presented
is simple and easy to comprehend it can be advantages
over other more complicated transformer models e.g.
[15].
5. References
1. Faraday, Michael: "Experimental Researches on
Electricity, 7th Series". Philosophical Transactions
of the Royal Society of London 124, 1834, pp 77
122
2. Zipernovsky C., Deri M., Blathy O.T.:
Improvements in induction apparatus for the
purpose of transforming electric currents, Deutsches
Reichspatent 40414, issued March 6, 1885
3. Stanley, W.: Induction Coil, U.S. Patent 349 311,
issued Sept. 21, 1886
4. Steinmetz, C.P., Berg E.J.: Theory and Calculation
of Aternating Current Phenomena, McGraw
Publishing Company, New York, 1897
5. Cohn S. B.: Directcoupled resonator filters, Proc.
IRE, vol. 45, Feb. 1957, pp. 187196

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