ABSTRACT
Rapid changes and developments are being witnessed in design, manufacturing and condition monitoring technologies of transformers. The technological leap is likely to continue in the forthcoming years along with increasing power and voltage ratings of transformers deployed in transmission systems. This chapter summarizes the emerging trends in transformer engineering. It highlights applications of new materials. The chapter identifies challenges in design and manufacture of the transformers. It provides some pointers to researchers working in the area of transformers. The research in nanotechnology may have considerable impact on some aspects of transformer engineering. The development of the technology based on liquid nitrogen at temperatures up to 79°K has reduced the complexity and cost of the superconducting transformers. High-temperature superconducting transformers are costly and not commercially viable in conventional transmission and distribution applications with the present state of the technology; however they have been found attractive for niche applications such as fault current limiters.
