Amorphous metal transformerAnamorphousmetal transformer(AMT) is a typeof energy ecient transformer found on electric grids.[1]The magnetic core of this transformer is made with aferromagnetic amorphous metal. The typical material(Metglas) is an alloy of iron with boron, silicon, andphosphorus in the form of thin (e.g. 25 m) foils. Thesematerialshavehighmagneticsusceptibility, verylowcoercivity and high electrical resistance. The high resis-tance and thin foils lead to low losses by eddy currentswhen subjected to alternating magnetic elds. On thedownside amorphous alloys have a lower saturation in-duction and often a higher magnetostriction compared toconventional crystalline iron-silicon electrical steel .[2]1 Core loss and copper lossIn a transformer the no load loss is dominated by the coreloss. With an amorphous core, this can be 7080% lowerthan with traditional crystalline materials. The loss underheavy load is dominated by the resistance of the copperwindings and thus called copper loss. Here the lower sat-uration magnetization of amorphous cores tend to resultin a lower eciency at full load. Using more copper andcore material it is possible to compensate for this. Sohigh eciency AMTs can be more ecient at low andhigh load, though at a larger size. The more expensiveamorphous core material, the more dicult handling andthe need for more copper windings make an AMT moreexpensive than a traditional transformer.2 ApplicationsThe main application of AMTs are the grid distributiontransformers rated at about 50-1000 kVA. These trans-formers typically run 24 hours a day and at a low loadfactor (average load divided by nominal load). The noload loss of these transforms makes up a signicant partof the loss of the whole distribution net. Amorphous ironis also used in specialized electric motors that operate athigh frequencies of perhaps 350 Hz or more.[3]3 Advantages and disadvantagesMore ecient transformers lead to a reduction of gener-ation requirement and, when using electric power gener-ated from fossil fuels, less CO2 emissions. This technol-ogy has been widely adopted by large developing coun-tries such as China[4] and India[5] where labour cost islow. AMT are in fact more labour intensive than con-ventional distribution transformer, a reason that explain avery low adoption in the comparable (by size) Europeanmarket. These two countries can potentially save 2530TWh electricity annually, eliminate 6-8 GW generationinvestment, and reduce 2030 million tons of CO2 emis-sion by fully utilizing this technology.4 Use in ChinaAs one of the major programs to improve grid eciency,China has started to install amorphous metal transform-ers in a number of energy intensive provinces since 2005.Over 20,000 MVA of such transformers are installed ev-ery year. This movement has also led to the successfuldevelopment and production of amorphous metal ribbonin China.[6]5 Notes and references[1] Kennedy, Barry (1998), Energy Ecient Transformers,McGraw-Hill[2] K.Inagaki, M. Kuwabara et. Al., Hitachi Review60(2011)no. 5pp250, http://www.hitachi.com/rev/archive/2011/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2011/09/06/2011_05_113.pdf[3] Understanding the basics of amorphous-iron motors.machinedesign.com.[4] SPC Note on T&D network loss reduction and energysavingplanSPCTransportationandEnergySection,Document #123, 1997 (in Chinese).[5] B.S.K. Naidu,Amorphous Metal TransformersNewTechnology Developments, Keynote Speech, CBIP-AlliedSignal Seminar (India), April 1999.[6] Chu, Christina (2009), Chinas AT&M launches amor-phousmetal ribboninconjunctionwiththecountrysemission reduction plan (In Chinese). Available athttp://www.chinapower.com.cn/newsarticle/1103/new1103612.asp . A rough English translation can befound at http://www.aepfm.org/link.phpAmorphous Metal Transformer Information Web-site12 5 NOTES AND REFERENCESReview and the Future of Amorphous Metal Trans-former in Asia (Updated on Sept 2011)Amorphous Metals in Electric-Power DistributionApplicationsAmorphous Ribbon for Transformers36 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses6.1 Text Amorphousmetaltransformer Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_metal_transformer?oldid=652757659 Contributors:Rich Farmbrough, Wtshymanski, Shaddack, Malcolma, SmackBot, Headbomb, Nick Number, GunnsteinLye, LorenzoB, EscapingLife,Jerryci, Biscuittin, SieBot, Redneckboi, Avidallred, Addbot, AnomieBOT, Jim1138, Lteschler, Bamyers99, Markiewp, Ontist, Ulrich67,Cyberbot II, Mogism and Anonymous: 146.2 Images6.3 Content license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0