Why transformers are rated in kVA, not in kW?


  Power rating of a transformer or any electric machines indicates the maximum value of voltage and current it can carry without over-heating.
Power  = Voltage(V) × Current(A) × Power factor
  As transformer is consider as a power source while the induction motor is considered as a load.
Manufacturers of Transformers cannot predict the power factor because power factor depends upon the load connected and load may be resistive, capacitive, and inductive.
Since transformer does not depend on power factor, therefore power factor is not consider while designing a transformer.
Power = Voltage(V) × Current(A)
Also, there are two major losses in transformer
1. copper losses
2. iron losses or core losses
Copper losses depends on the current passing through transformer winding while iron losses or core losses depends on voltage. Both losses are independent of power factor, so transformers are designs for rated voltage and rated current.
That’s why the transformer are rated in in kVA, not in kW.
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