Allegheny technologies incorporated [ati] is one of the world`s largest and most diversified producers of specialty metals . Ati`s electrical silicon steels are iron-based alloys containing silicon as the major alloying addition. These steels are used generally in applications such as power transformers where electrical conductivity and magnetic properties are important. Conventional grain-oriented electrical steel which falls in this category is processed under carefully controlled conditions to develop optimum magnetic characteristics in the rolling direction. Salient features:
It develops low core losses at high inductions when used as core material in designs with the flux path parallel to the rolling direction.
These low losses at high inductions are attained with low exciting currents because of the excellent high induction permeability of grain-oriented silicon steel.
Processing of grain-oriented silicon steels is carefully controlled in order to achieve a very high stacking factor for the core material.
The high usable magnetic induction of grain-oriented silicon steel contributes to low losses, not only in the core [no load losses], but also allows for the minimum load losses or winding losses in the transformer.