In our daily life, we can see a transformer on the transformer table, which is different from our household electronic items, but it is also used as an electronic component for a transformer. Why do high frequency transformers have ferrite cores while those on the transformer table use laminated steel. What is the reason for the laminated steel sheet used in a transformer?
What is Ferrite Core Transformer?
Transformers with ferrite cores are non-conductive, ferromagnetic compounds with ferrite windings. Low coercivity and low eddy current losses make them ideal for high frequency applications.
Unlike transformer lamination cores, they appear as compact, cast cores in various geometric shapes and are utilized in places where transformer lamination cores cannot be used. This material has the advantage of having a very high permeability, low losses, and the ability to operate at high frequencies. One disadvantage of ferrite cores is that they are easily saturated (their saturation flux density is typically 0.5 T). It is possible to create cores with different material blends to achieve desired properties, depending on whether they will be used for communication, power supply, filtering, etc.
What is laminated Steel Transformer？
Eddy currents are generated in a transformer core made from E and I lamination, which heat the core and cause losses by altering the current. Due to its wide size, the iron core reduces current losses due to its greater size. Due to the lamination, the region is reduced, so the resistance becomes very strong and the current is restricted. In contrast to using a core, the current will always be less.
Lamination would prevent the iron core from providing the magnetic lines with a place to generate induced currents, meaning that the core would heat up rapidly and waste energy.
In Conclusion:
Transformers with ferrite cores are used to produce variable frequency transformers with operating frequencies above 10kHz. Laminated steel transformer is used for the production of power frequency transformers with an operating frequency of 50Hz*400Hz.
Transformers made of ferrite are suitable for high frequencies and special waveforms, such as switching transformers, high frequency inductors, etc. Transformers made of laminated steel sheet are suitable for low frequency sine waves, such as power transformers, audio transformers, and power frequency reactors.
