Economics and Power Transformer Design

This paper describes the constraints which economics places on the design of power transformers. The mathematical analysis shows how the size, losses, reactances, and power output are related when the transformer is optimally designed. Because of the number of simplifying assumptions which have been made, this paper is not a treatise on how to design power transformers. On the contrary, it is a broad view of the design problem which yields findings which are new and which seem to be borne out by the experience of transformer design engineers. The paper confirms the validity of propositions which previously had only empirical backing.