The efficiency of a transformer is typically high due to the principles of electromagnetic induction and the design of its core and windings. Transformers operate on the basis of transferring electrical energy from one circuit to another through magnetic coupling. This process is highly efficient because there are minimal losses associated with the transfer of energy via magnetic flux between the primary and secondary windings. Additionally, the core materials used in transformers, such as iron or silicon steel laminations, are chosen for their ability to concentrate magnetic flux and minimize eddy current losses, contributing to high efficiency.
Despite their high efficiency, no transformer is 100% efficient because of inherent losses that occur during operation. These losses primarily include copper losses (due to resistance in the windings) and core losses (due to hysteresis and eddy currents in the core material). While modern transformers are designed to minimize these losses through careful selection of materials and construction techniques, there will always be some energy dissipated as heat, limiting the efficiency to less than 100%.
Comparatively, transformers generally exhibit higher efficiency than rotating machines such as electric motors or generators. This is because transformers operate on electromagnetic induction, which transfers energy through a magnetic field without mechanical friction or moving parts. In contrast, rotating machines involve mechanical components like bearings and brushes that introduce friction and mechanical losses, reducing overall efficiency compared to transformers.
The efficiency of a transformer is not low in absolute terms, but it is lower compared to ideal theoretical conditions (100% efficiency). The primary reasons for efficiency being less than 100% include resistive losses in the copper windings (I²R losses) and losses in the magnetic core material (hysteresis and eddy current losses). These losses result in some of the input electrical energy being converted into heat rather than transferred completely to the output side. Efforts to improve transformer efficiency focus on minimizing these losses through better design, materials, and operational strategies.
The efficiency of a transformer is always less than 1 (or 100%) due to the physical realities of energy conversion and transmission. Even under optimal conditions with minimal losses, transformers cannot achieve perfect efficiency because of unavoidable factors like resistive heating in the windings and magnetic losses in the core material. While transformer efficiency can be very high, typically ranging from 95% to 98% for modern designs, achieving 100% efficiency is theoretically impossible due to these inherent losses in the energy transfer process.