ABSTRACT
A transformer is a complex three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic device. A three-phase transformer is a multiphase structure having materials with nonlinear characteristics and anisotropic properties. Advanced field computations involving coupled analysis of the electromagnetic field and the other fields are generally essential for its quality enhancement and optimization. Owing to tremendous advances in computational facilities, accurate field computations in electromagnetic devices are possible. The chapter discusses many of the basics of electromagnetic fields and potentials used in various finite element methods (FEM) formulations. It provides an adequate exposure to the theory of electromagnetic fields, as required for better understanding of fields in transformers. Many manufacturers develop their own customized FEM programs for optimization and reliability enhancement of transformers. The transformer is a complex 3-D structure in which many physical fields like thermal, fluid, structural, and acoustic exist in addition to electric and magnetic fields.
