HISTORY OF TRANSFORMER

Beside Transmission Lines, the distribution of electrical power from one place to another would be impossible without the use of transformers. It would be very impractical if not impossible to transmit a usable voltage level say 240V over a long distance transmission. With the help of transformers, power transmission in the modern era has been very successful. Various forms of transformers exist today each with its own purpose and function. The development of this human invention, the transformer, has come a long way from the day of its inception. One may see the evolution that occurred which makes it a very fascinating device that has help human kind since time immemorial.

Transformers are considered to be the heart of the electrical power system. Like a heart, its purpose is to effectively pump power and give life. Transformers unique role is to transfer electrical energy or power from one circuit to another through magnetic induction. Another important role it plays in the power system is through the use of a transformer, voltage level can be transformed from one value to another either stepping it down or stepping it up that can be use whatever the user prefers it to be. 

We have mentioned a while ago that the role of a transformer was made possible through the principles of magnetic induction. This electromagnetic induction was first discovered by these two renowned inventors in 1831; Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday.   However, in 1836, the first type of transformer that was widely used was invented by Nicholas Callan of Maynooth College. This type of transformer was the induction coil. Another known realization of Nicholas Callan was the relationship between the EMF and the windings of the transformer where he observed that the voltage induced increases as the number of turns in the secondary with respect to the primary becomes bigger.



William Stanley Jr.



As the development of the transformer advances, the design of the transformer where later perfected by inventors Lucien Gaulard, Sebastian Ferranti, and William Stanley. Since the discovery of the property of induction in 1830s, it wasn’t until 1886 that Willian Stanley who works for Westinghouse built the first practical transformer. Together with George Westinghouse, Stanley was able to produce cheap and easy to adjust for final use transformers.

First Transformer made by William Stanley Jr.

Also in 1886 in Massachusetts, the first AC power system that used the modern transformer was used. Earlier forms of the transformer were used in Austro-Hungary 1878-1880s and 1882 onward in England. Lucien Gaulard (Frenchman) used his AC system for the revolutionary Lanzo to Turin electrical exposition in 1884. In 1891 mastermind Mikhail Dobrovsky designed and demonstrated his 3 phase transformers in the Electro-Technical Exposition at Frankfurt, Germany. Since then, many innovations have occurred that made the transformers of what it is today some of which is increasing its efficiency, reducing size, and increasing capacity. At present, the typical use of transformers can be seen significantly in any major electrical and electronics devices.

Reference: www.edisontechcenter.org , en.wikipedia.org