In modern electrical systems, there are two types of transformers: GSU Transformers and Step-down transformers. Both are critical for transporting power from power stations to consumers.
Transformers are a necessary part of the power grid for delivering electricity from a power plant to consumers. Without transformers, energy consumers would lose much of the energy produced by power plants before that energy could reach them.
Using alternating current (AC) energy, transformers convert energy to and from high voltage for the purpose of efficiently transferring energy from one place to another. Without AC energy and transformers, many smaller power stations would need to be built close to consumers for consumers to have the energy they require.
Why Are There Step-up and Step-down Transformers?
It seems redundant to make a power grid that sandwiches powerlines between transformers. Why convert the power in the first place?
The reason transformers are needed at both ends of the grid has to do with the physical properties of electricity. Most of the appliances we use in our homes and workplaces require lower voltages of energy. Homes in the United States are equipped with wiring to support electronics between 120 and 240 volts.
When wiring and electrical systems are channeling lower volts of electricity, more energy is lost in the form of heat. This is because lower voltage systems have a higher current.
The relationship between current and voltage is inversely proportional. The more you increase the voltage, the more you decrease the current. Increasing the voltage preserves energy that would have been lost in a higher current.
Thus, when transporting energy, the voltage needs to increase to stop energy from being lost to the environment.
What is a GSU Transformer?
GSUT is short for generator step-up transformer. Commonly referred to as GSU transformers, these machines play an essential role in converting the power from power plants into energy that can be transported over long distances.
GSU transformers are larger than traditional transformers you might find around your home or workplace. These transformers are responsible for converting high-current, low-voltage AC power into low-current, high-voltage AC power. Their size corresponds to the amount of power these transformers need to load into the power grid.
GSU transformers are often used as step-up transformers. They increase the voltage of power coming out of the power station so that lower power loss afflicts the distribution efforts. Without the scale of GSU transformers, power stations wouldn’t be capable of sending as much power to consumers.
When it comes to converting power, technically, every transformer can be used as a step-up or a step-down transformer. The difference between the two would be where the primary current originates. GSU transformers are large because they need to be capable of converting large amounts of power.
Step-down transformers are typically much smaller than GSU transformers because they don’t need to transform as much energy as their larger counterparts do.
What is a step-down transformer?
Step-down transformers fill the opposite needs of step-up transformers. Instead of converting energy from a low voltage to a higher one, step-up transformers convert high-voltage energy into low-voltage energy.
Energy requirements vary at different parts of the power grid. A home doesn’t need the same energy requirements as a warehouse or factory would. Naturally, different power requirements call for different-sized transformers.
Where GSU transformers can be the size of a small residence, step-down transformers can be as small as a garbage can.
Without the help of step-down transformers, your appliances would likely overheat and short out or explode. Step-down transformers convert energy to lower voltage, which is safer for residential and commercial use on small scales.
Internal Components of Step-up vs. Step-down Transformers
Transformers are composed of two separate coils. In an AC system, the alternating current creates an oscillating electromagnetic field. This is critical for the transformation of voltage.
Alternating current electrical systems constantly change the direction or flow of the electrical current. In the United States, AC systems will change directions 60 times per second. This means they run at 60 Hertz.
Each transformer has two coils wrapped around a steel core. The alternating current’s electromagnetic field manipulates the coil on the other side of the core, shifting the electrons in the wire.
The two coils differ in size. One coil will be larger than the other; that is, the coil will be wrapped around the core more times than the other. This is critical for energy conversion.
If the smaller coil is being fed energy and is primarily used to make an electromagnetic field, it is a step-up transformer. If the larger coil is being fed energy and is creating an oscillating electromagnetic field, it is considered a step-down transformer.
The size of the transformer determines how much energy it is capable of moving. Larger transformers can convert more electricity into lower or higher volts. These types of transformers are best when there is a lot of energy being produced or consumed.
If you notice that the transformers near where you live are much smaller than the GSU transformers we described earlier, that is probably because you live in an area where more energy is consumed than produced.
While any type of transformer can be used as a step-up or step-down transformer, the greatest limiting factor is the size of your transformer. A pole-mounted transformer is going to have a different capacity than a generator step-up transformer. If you try to push lots of energy through a small transformer, it will likely overheat and explode.
UTB Transformers — Your Trusted Transformer Supplier and Maintenance Specialists
If you are looking for a local, Utah-based company to supply or maintain your transformers, our specialists are capable of helping you.
Not only can we recommend a transformer to match the needs of your project, be it a temporary construction or mining job or a permanent transformer for residential or commercial use, but we can also help you get the most out of your energy investment.
Contact us today to learn how we can help with your specific needs.
