Module 7 Magnetic circuits

Introduction to magnetic field, analogy between electrical and magnetic

circuits. Analysis of magnetic circuits: Series, parallel. Magnetic materials,
B-H curve. Electromagnetic induction self and mutual inductance,
transformers

Reference Book
Allan R. Hambley, “Electrical Engineering – Principles & Applications”,
2013, 6th Edition, Pearson Education, Noida, India.
 Magnetic Circuits - Introduction

1. Understand magnetic fields and their interactions with moving charges.

2. Use the right-hand rule to determine the direction of the magnetic field
around a current-carrying wire or coil.

3. Calculate forces on moving charges and current carrying wires due to

magnetic fields.

4. Calculate the voltage induced in a coil by a changing magnetic flux or in

a conductor cutting through a magnetic field.

5. Use Lenz’s law to determine the polarities of induced voltages.

6. Apply magnetic-circuit concepts to determine the magnetic fields in

practical devices.
Magnetic Fields

Flux lines leave the north-

seeking end of a magnet
and enter the south-seeking
end.

Magnetic flux lines form

closed paths that are close
together where the field is
strong and farther apart
where the field is weak.

When placed in a magnetic

field, a compass indicates
north in the direction of the
flux lines.
Right Hand Rule
Forces on charges moving in a Magnetic Fields

F  qu  B

F  quB sin  
 Forces on Current Carrying Wires

dF  idl  B F  ilB sin  

A wire of length l = 1 m carries a current of 10A perpendicular to a field of B = 0.5 T.

Compute the magnitude of the force on the wire.

Answer f = 5 N.
 Flux Linkages and Faradays Law

Faraday’s law of magnetic induction:

It states that, the magnitude of induced emf is equal to the rate of
change of flux linkages with the coil. The flux linkages is the product
of number of turns and the flux associated with the coil.

d
e   N
dt

   B  dA
A

Faster the change in the magnetic field, the greater will be the induced
emf or voltage in the coil.
 Lenz’s Law
Lenz’s law states that the polarity of the induced voltage is such that
the voltage would produce a current (through an external resistance)
that opposes the original change in flux linkages.
d
e
dt
 Magnetic Field Intensity and Ampère’s Law

B  H Ampère’s Law:

r 
0  H  dl   i
0  4  10 7 Wb Am
 Magnetic Field around a Long straight wire

By symmetry and the right-hand rule, we conclude that B and H fall in a plane
perpendicular to the wire and are tangent to circles having their centers at the wire.
 Magnetic Flux density in a Toroidal Core

Assuming that the flux density is constant

throughout the core

By symmetry, the field intensity is constant

in magnitude

Applying Ampère’s law

Assuming that R is much greater than r,

the flux density is nearly constant over
the cross section of the core.
Examples of Magnetic Circuits
 Magnetic Circuits
In many engineering applications, we need to compute the magnetic fields
for structures that lack sufficient symmetry for straight-forward application
of Ampère’s law. Then, we use an approximate method known as
magnetic-circuit analysis.

Magnetomotive force (mmf) of an N-turn current-carrying coil

Reluctance of a path for magnetic flux



A

The advantage of the magnetic-circuit approach is that it can be applied to

unsymmetrical magnetic cores with multiple coils.
Reluctance and Permeance
Analogy between Electric and Magnetic Circuits
Analogy between Electric and Magnetic Circuits
Magnetic Circuits with reluctance in Series
Magnetic Circuits with reluctance in Series and Parallel
Toroidal Core as a Magnetic Circuits
Example 1

Solution 1
Example 2: Consider the magnetic circuit shown in Figure. Determine the current required to establish a flux
density of 0.5 T in the air gap.

Solution 3
Example 1 The iron core shown in Figure has a cross section of 2 cm by 2 cm and a relative
permeability of 1000. The coil has 500 turns and carries a current of i = 2A. Find the flux
density in each air gap.

Solution 5
Magnetic Materials

Energy Considerations
• Core Loss
• Eddy Current Loss
• Energy Stored in the Magnetic Field
 Magnetic Materials

The relationship between B and H is not linear for the types of iron used in motors and
transformers.
 Energy Considerations
Let us consider the energy flow to and from the coil. We assume that the coil has zero
resistance. As the current is increasing, the increasing flux density induces a voltage,
resulting in energy flow into the coil. The energy W delivered to the coil is the integral of
power. Thus, we get

Energy per unit volume of the core

B
W
Wv    H dB
Al 0
Part of this energy is returned to the circuit when H is reduced to zero, part of it remains
stored in the residual field, and part of it is converted to heat in the process of
magnetizing the core.
 Core loss
When an ac current is applied to a coil having an iron core, more
energy is put into the coil on each cycle than is returned to the
circuit. Part of the energy is converted to heat in reversing the
directions of the magnetic domains.

The volumetric energy converted to heat (energy loss)

per cycle is called core loss. It is equal to the area of the
hysteresis loop.

Since a fixed amount of energy is converted to heat for

each cycle, the power loss due to hysteresis is proportional
to frequency.

In motors, generators, and transformers, conversion of

energy into heat is undesirable. Therefore, we should
choose an alloy having a thin hysteresis loop.

For a permanent magnet, we should choose a material having a

large residual field i.e wide loop.
 Eddy current loss

As the magnetic fields change, voltages are induced in the core, causing currents,
known as eddy currents, to circulate in the core material.

As a result, power is dissipated in the core according to P = v2/R.

A partial solution to eddy-current loss is to laminate the core with thin sheets of iron that
are electrically insulated from one another. The orientation of the sheets is selected to
interrupt the flow of current. Thus, the resistance is higher for eddy currents, and the loss
is greatly reduced.

Another approach is to make the core with powdered iron held together by an insulating
binder.

Voltages induced in the core are proportional to frequency (because of Faraday’s law).
Therefore, power loss due to eddy currents increases with the square of frequency
(because P = v2/R).
 Energy stored in the Magnetic Field

Assuming that B = μH.

B
B B2
Wv   dB 
0
 2

Volumetric energy stored in the field is inversely proportional to the permeability.

Volumetric energy of the air gap is much higher than that of the core. In a magnetic circuit
consisting of an iron core with a substantial air gap, nearly all of the stored energy resides
in the gap.