Using Amorphous Iron Cores in 50 Hz Net Transformers – A Technique to Save Cost and Energy

Abstract:
In this paper we show the construction and properties of net transformers based on amorphous iron cores. Material properties of the amorphous iron ribbon and their influence to the core losses of a low frequency transformer are explained. We present the measured losses of three different amorphous materials at a typical net transformer operation point and compare them to each other. At the end we show the design of a 50 Hz, 110 VA, 1:1 insulation transformer based on an amorphous core. On this concrete example we compare the size and iron losses of an amorphous transformer to the one of a conventional transformer based on iron steel. The amortization time needed to get back the investment of the more expensive amorphous core by saving energy cost is estimated.