EEE 121

Circuit Theory 1

Chapter 3
MAGNETIC CIRCUITS

LECTURER : MOHD NAZRUL BIN SIDEK

CONTENTS Chapter 3

1. INTRODUCTION
2. AMPERES CIRCUITAL LAW
3. KIRCHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW (KVL) IN
MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
4. KIRCHOFFS CURRENT LAW (KCL) IN
MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
5. AIR GAPS
6. SERIES MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
7. SERIES-PARALLEL MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
 1. INTRODUCTION
Magnetism or magnetic circuit is important in almost all
electrical device such as generator, motor, transformer, television,
computer, telephone, etc.

Few terms that have to be understood are:

a. Flux Density, B
b. Permeability,
c. Relative Permeability, r
a. Flux Density, (B)

When magnetomotif force (mmf) applied to magnetic

material, flux will be induced
Magnetic flux () measured in Webers (Wb)
Flux density (B) is the number of flux lines per unit area and
measured in Tesla (T)

Where, = flux [Wb]

B
A A = area [m2]
B = flux density [T]
b. Permeability,

The strength of magnetic field will vary in accordance

with the core used
This variation in strength is due to the number of flux
lines passing through the core

Where, o = permeabilty of free

o r space (4 x 10-7 H/m)

r = relative permeabilty of
the core
= permeability [Wb/ A.m]
 c. Relative Permeability, r
It is the ratio of permeability of a material, to that of free space, o

Where, r = relative permeabilty of the core

r o = permeabilty of free
o space (4 x 10-7 H/m)
= permeability of material
used [Wb/ A.m]
Example:
Material Relative Permeability, r
Air 1
Permalloy 100,000
Cast Steel 1,000
Sheet Steel 4,000
Iron 5,195
Ferromagnetic r >> 1
 2. AMPERES CIRCUITAL LAW

Magnetic circuit is like an electric circuit in the sense that flux,

(similar to current, I) is produced in a core (conductor) by mmf
(magnetomotif force), similar to electromotif force, emf in electric
circuit.

A typical problem in magnetic circuits is to determine the amount of

current that must be supplied to a winding in order to produce a
specified flux in a core.
 2. AMPERES CIRCUITAL LAW
Similarity between electric circuit and magnetic circuit
Electric Circuit Magnetic Circuit
I
I

E R

Electromotif Force (emf), E = V = IR [V] Magnetomotif Force (mmf), = NI [A.t]

Current, I = V/R [A] Magnetic Flux, = BA [Wb]

Resistance, R = V/I [] l
Reluctance , [ At / Wb]
A A
Conductivity, [1/m] Permeability, [Wb/ A.m]

Current Density, j [A/m2] Magnetic Flux Density, B [Wb/m2 or T]

Electric Field Intensity, E [V/m] Magnetic Field Intensity or, H B [At/m]

Magnetizing Force
 3. KIRCHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
IN MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
Electric Circuit Magnetic Circuit

V 0 F 0
F NI 0

Practical equation for mmf drop:

F H
Amperes Circuital Law
NI H

where; H = magnetizing force

= length of section
Example 1: Consider the magnetic circuit in figure below, where the circuit is made up of 3
different ferromagnetic materials (iron, cast & sheet steel)

F 0
NI ( H) cast iron ( H) cast steel ( H) sheet steel
NI ( H)

- All terms are known except magnetizing force (H) for each material
- H can be obtained from B-H Curve (if flux, or flux density, B is known)
- Another method of obtaining H is from relationship of B= H
 4. KIRCHOFFS CURRENT LAW
(KCL) IN MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
Fluxes entering a junction is equal to the sum of fluxes leaving the junction

Junction x
a c
I

b
N
=0

At junction x: a = b + c
 5. AIR GAPS
Many practical electromagnetic has a small opening call an air gap.
When an air gap occurs in magnetic circuit, the flux at the edge bends outwards as shown in
Figure (a).Thus,
g c Known as fringing

Figure (a) Figure (b)

For our purpose, the fringing effect is neglected and the flux distribution is assume to be as
Figure (b).
Flux density of air gap, where; g g core
Bg
Ag Ag Acore

Magnetizing Force of air gap, Hg

Bg
where; g o
O
Bg Bcore
 6. SERIES MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
Example 2: Series Magnetic Circuit
Determine the current, I required to establish the indicated flux of
the core.

Given: ab cd ef af 10 cm
bc de 1 cm
cross sec tional area; A 4 10 4 m 2
magnetic flux; 3.5 10 4 Wb
 6. SERIES MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
Example 3: Series Magnetic Circuit with Air Gap
Find the current, I required to establish the magnetic flux,
= 0.75 x 10-4 Wb in the series magnetic circuit below.

Given:
bc air gap 2 103 m
cdefab 100 103 m
cross sec tional area; A 1.5 104 m 2
 7. SERIES-PARALLEL
MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
The close analogies between electric and magnetic circuits will lead to magnetic
circuits.
Example 4: Find the current, I required to establish a magnetic flux of
1.5 x 10-4 Wb in cd. Given,
bafe bcde 0.2m, be 0.05m
A 6 104 m2
Example 5: Series-Parallel Magnetic Circuit with Air Gap
Figure below shows a cross-sectional view of a magnetic circuit. It has a
cross-sectional area of 870 x 10-3 m2 and the length of the air gap is 2mm.
The outer limbs are made of sheet steel and the centre limb is made of cast
steel. Determine the required current, I to establish a magnetic flux of 180 x
10-3 Wb in the air gap. The permeability of free space, o = (4 x 10-7
H/m). Assume that the magnetic flux leakage and flux fringing in the air gap
is negligible.