Stacking factor

The stacking factor (also lamination factor or space factor^[1]) is a measure used in electrical transformer design and some other electrical machines. It is the ratio of the effective cross-sectional area of the transformer core to the physical cross-sectional area of the transformer core. The two are different because of the way cores are constructed.

Transformer cores are usually made up of thin metal sheets stacked in layers. The layers are laminated with varnish or other insulating material. The purpose is to reduce eddy currents in the core while keeping a high magnetic flux. Since the insulator is non-ferro-magnetic, little, if any, magnetic flux is contained within it. It is mainly in the metal sheets. The insulation takes up a finite space, so the effective area the flux occupies is less than the physical area of the core.^[2] The stacking factor depends on the thickness of the lamination of the steel sheets which comprise the core.

The stacking factor is usually 0.9. The stacking factor is always less than 1.

The stacking factor is used when calculating the magnetic flux density within the core. Because the flux is confined within a smaller area in a laminated core, the flux density is higher than it would be in a homogeneous core.^[3]

Laminated cores always have a stacking factor less than unity; a stacking factor of unity implies no laminate at all. Stacking factors are typically 0.95 or higher for transformer cores^[4] and machine stators.^[5] However, cores made from amorphous metal have a stacking factor of around 0.8, compared to 0.96 for silicon steel.^[1]

A related concept in transformer design is window space factor. This is defined as the ratio of the area occupied by the copper windings to the area of the space they pass through (the "window"). The higher the operational voltage of the transformer, the smaller this ratio needs to be in order to provide more space for insulation.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b Barry W. Kennedy, Energy Efficient Transformers, p. 140, McGraw Hill Professional, 1998 ISBN 0070342881.
^ "Laminated cores simulation", Quick Field, accessed and archived 29 September 2019.
^ I. Govind G Vishnu, ', p. 12, Vels University .
^ W.G. Hurley, W.H. Wölfle, Transformers and Inductors for Power Electronics, p. 109, John Wiley & Sons, 2013 ISBN 1118544676.
^ Jacek F. Gieras, Rong-Jie Wang, Maarten J. Kamper, Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Brushless Machines, p. 81, Springer Science & Business Media, 2008 ISBN 1402082274.
^ M. V. Deshpande, Design and Testing of Electrical Machines, p. 119, PHI Learning,, 2010 ISBN 8120336453

v t e Transformer topics
Topics	Balun Buchholz relay Bushing Center tap Circle diagram Condition monitoring of transformers Electrical insulation paper Growler High-leg delta Induction regulator Leakage inductance Magnet wire Metadyne Open-circuit test Polarity Pressure relief valve Quadrature booster Resolver Resonant inductive coupling Severity factor Short-circuit test Stacking factor Synchro Tap changer Toroidal inductors and transformers Transformer oil Dissolved gas analysis Transformer oil testing Transformer utilization factor Vector group
Types	Autotransformer Buck–boost transformer Distribution transformer Pad-mounted transformer Delta-wye transformer Energy efficient transformer Amorphous metal transformer Flyback transformer Grounding transformer Instrument transformer Current transformer Voltage transformer Isolation transformer Austin transformer Linear variable differential transformer Parametric transformer Planar transformer Rotary transformer Rotary variable differential transformer Scott-T transformer Solid-state transformer Trigger transformer Variable-frequency transformer Zigzag transformer
Coils	Hybrid coil Induction coil Oudin coil Polyphase coil Repeating coil Tesla coil Trembler coil
Manufacturers	ABB General Electric Mitsubishi Electric ProlecGE Schneider Electric Siemens TBEA

This page was last edited on 31 March 2024, at 19:08

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References