Voltage regulation - how to compute
Voltage regulation - how to compute
The voltage regulation of the transformer is the percentage change in the output voltage from no-load to full-load. And since power factor is a determining factor in the secondary voltage, power factor influences voltage regulation. This means the voltage regulation of a transformer is a dynamic and a load-dependent number. The numbers you see in the nameplate data are fixed; the number of primary windings won't change; the number of secondary windings won't change, etc. But, the voltage regulation will vary as power factor varies.
Having said those, here it is:
- If the resistance (R) and reactance (X) of the transformer is known; VD = IR(Cos q) + IX(Sin q) - (From IEEE Red Book); where I is the load current of the transformer; R is the transformer resistance; X is the transformer inductive reactance; Cos q is the power factor(PF) of the transformer load; and Sin q is the reactive factor = square root of (1- PF^2)
- If you have no data on resistances/ reactances, you can calculate the voltage regulation by using the formula:
V(no-load) - V (full-load)
%regulation = ----------------------
In the example presented by EW87301:
150 KVA, 277/480V,
% voltage impeadance: Z=1.55
R=.79,X = 1.33
% voltage drop
100% load = 1.24
130% load = 1.61
We need to assume the value of the load power factor, say PF = unity (or 1), then:
Resistance in ohms = 0.0079 X (480^2/150 kVA) = 0.0079 X 1.536 =
0.01213 ohms.
Reactance in ohms = 0.0133 X (480^2/150 kVA) = 0.0133 X 1.536 =
0.02042 ohms.
At full load current = 150kVA/480 = 312.5 amperes (assuming 1-phase)
The Voltage Drop will then be:
VD = (312.5)(0.01213)(1) + (312.5)(0.02042)(1) =
10.17 volts (@ PF = 1)
The % regulation will be = (10.17 volts/ 480 volts) X 100 =
2.12 %
The percent regulation will be greater if the power factor is other than unity.