Basic Concepts of Magnetic Circuits

Basic Concepts of Magnetic Circuits

When a current flows in a wire, it creates a magnetic field around it. And, if the current-carrying wire is a coil, it creates a magnetic field that induces a voltage in it.

In other words, when the current-carrying conductor faces another magnetic field, it induces a force. And when a current-carrying conductor, moves in a magnetic field, it induces a voltage.

Magnetic field intensity around a closed path

Magnetic field intensity H is the ability of current to create a magnetic field in a circuit. To calculate the magnetic field intensity, caused by a current, we can use the below equation, Ampere’s law.

magnetic field intensity produced by the current

If there is a ferromagnetic metal inside a coil, the magnetic field created by the coil is absorbed into the core.

absorbed magnetic field

So, the Ampere’s law

H is the magnitude of the magnetic field intensity vector,

the magnitude of the magnetic field intensity formula

Magnetic field intensity and the core

If there is a ferromagnetic metal inside the coil, the magnetic field created by the coil is absorbed into the core. However, the strength of the magnetic field depends on the core.

magnetic flux density formula

Total flux in a given area ϕ

total flux in given area

dA is the differential unit of area.

If the flux density is a constant and has a θ angle to a plane of area A, we can write the equation as,

ϕ =BA cos⁡(θ)

If the flux density is perpendicular to the area and a constant, we can rewrite the above equation as,

ϕ = BA

So, to get to know the total magnetic flux generated by the current, we can substitute,

Into the equation, therefore the magnetic flux density,

magnetic flux density formula

Force that drives the current flow

In a normal electrical circuit, the voltage or the EMF (electromotive force) drives the current flow. So it can be described using Ohm’s law,

V=IR

But in magnetic circuits, the force that drives the current flow is MMF (magnetomotive force).  And it’s represented by the script letter F and measured by Ampere turns. The equation for magnetomotive force is,

F=Ni

So, we can write the magnetic flux as,

MMF, flux and reluctance

Magnetomotive force F (MMF) is the cause of the generation of magnetic flux ∅. Magnetic reluctance is a similar concept to electrical resistance. And the units of reluctance s ampere-turns per weber. Just like in Ohm’s law, we can build a relationship as follows,

So, we can write the magnetic flux as,

magnetic flux

Reluctance in series

reluctance in the series formula

Reluctance in parallel

reluctance in parallel formula

Permeance

As there is reluctance for the resistance, what is there for the conductance. There is permeance for the resistance.

Permeance

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