I am doing a school project of a Wind Turbine; and I need to show a transformer or what a transformer is in a wind turbine. I have just 1 question. WHY DO PEOPLE USE TRANSFORMERS?
Transformers are used to adjust voltage levels to reduce current and thereby reduce voltage drop in transmission lines.
Transformers do one of two things; they either step down the voltage and increase the amperage or they step up the voltage and decrease the amperage. They do this to modulate the line current. They are also usually part of a circuit that creates electricity; to smooth out the flow of current (like in your wind turbine example). Voltage along the primary line in the US is usually at 220 volts and that is to high to use in a house so it is stepped down to 110 volts and sent along secondary lines to homes and businesses. That is done by those big transformers you see in the back yard or hanging off of telephone and power poles. The reason why 220 volts are carried through the main line is to make it transmit further distances before another transformer is required to step up the power to keep it flowing through the line. Most household electronic equipment use a transformer to step the voltage down or up to the levels needed (usually down). The voltage running into the house is too high for most modern TV sets, computers, VCRs and DVD players as well as other stereo components so it has to be stepped down. This also gives the circuit more amperage (more power so to speak) so that it draws less amps from the main circuit and can do its job like spinning motors that take a lot of power.
