ELL : INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICAL

ENGG.

Magnetic Circuits

Course Instructors:
Seshan Srirangarajan, Sumantra Duttaroy, S. Janardhanan
and Jun Bae Seo
Department of Electrical Engineering, IITD
Basic Definitions
• Magnetic field : Region around a
magnet/current carrying
conductor, that is influenced by
the magnetic lines of forces.

• Magnetic flux () : The amount of

magnetic field produced by the
source. Unit (Weber – Wb)
Basic Definitions
• Flux Density (B) : When the flux
is distributed evenly over an area
A, the flux density is the
magnetic flux per unit area.
(B= /A). Unit = Wb/m2 = Tesla (T)
Conversely, the summation
obtained by integrating flux density
over an area is magnetic flux.
= 𝐵. 𝑑𝐴
 Basic Definitions
• Magnetic Field Intensity (H) : It is a
measure of the tendency of a
moving charge to produce
magnetic flux density. (Units :
Ampere-turns/m – A-t/m)
• Permeability (): The ease with
which magnetic field can be
established in a material.
(Dimension : Wb/At-m or H/m)
𝐵 
 = , 𝑟 =
𝐻 0
Basic Definitions
• Magneto-motive Force (mmf) (F ) :

•  Is property of material.
• A, l depend on core geometry.
• mmf is the external force required
to set up a magnetic field
• F = Ni. (Ampere-turns)
•F= 𝐻𝑑𝑙
Basic Definitions
• Reluctance (R ) :
Reluctance is the amount of ‘resistance’
that a magnetic circuit offers to
establishment of flux lines.
F = (l/A) , R = l/A ,
=F /R or F = R 
Units (H-1) [Property of material and
geometry]
Magnetic circuit analogy with electrical
circuit
• The behaviour involving magnetic devices can be readily analyzed
using magnetic circuits. Magnetic circuits have similar analogy
with electrical circuits.
Magnetic circuit analogy with electrical
circuit
Magnetic circuit in series
• In case of series circuit, the applied mmf is equal to the drop
across each series element.

F = φ Req = φ (R1+ R2 + …+ Rn)

φ
F
Fringing in Air Gap
Fringing in Air Gap
• When magnetic circuit has air gap, the flux fringes in the air gap,
spreading over larger area to lower reluctance.
• Lower flux density results.
• Traditionally, to account for this
gap length is added to all
dimensions while calculating
Cross-section of air-gap.
Example 1
Determine the ratio of currents required to maintain the flux of
1.5mWb with the air gap present in the core, and without air
gap. Assume relative permeability of iron as 1500, N = 1000.

4x3

The reluctance of the air gap is 15 times that of the iron core.
It is like a high resistance in series with low resistance.
Example 1
Determine the ratio of currents required to maintain the flux of
1.5mWb with the air gap present in the core, and without air gap.
Assume relative permeability of iron as 1500, N=1000.

Why have an airgap at all? Why not construct magnetic circuit without airgap?
Leakage of Flux
• With increase of mmf (and H), some flux may
return through short air path, and not reach
the air gap.
• This effectively is leakage flux.
• It is low for high permeability materials.
• Consequence : Higher mmf required to
establish a given flux.
•  Relative permeability is not absolute
constant.
B-H Curve
• The B-H/magnetization curve
gives the relation between B
and H at various field
intensities.
• It is NOT theoretical. But, is
experimental data.
• It is non-linear in very high and
very low B,H values and is
approx. linear in mid range
Example 2
• The magnet circuit shown in below fig. with 500 turns wound on
each leg, find the current required to establish a flux of 4mWb
across the 0.1-cm air gaps.
 • The magnetic circuit consists of one cast steel element,
Example 2 one sheet steel element and two air gaps. Assume that
fringing is negligible.

• The total applied mmf is required for the flow of flux in a

series combination of cast steel, sheet steel and two air
gaps.

• Sheet Steel :
B-H Curve
 • The magnetic circuit consists of one cast steel element,
Example 2 one sheet steel element and two air gaps. Assume that
fringing is negligible.

• The total applied mmf is required for the flow of flux in a

series combination of cast steel, sheet steel and two air
gaps.

• Sheet Steel :
 • The magnetic circuit consists of one cast steel element,
Example 2 one sheet steel element and two air gaps. Assume that
fringing is negligible.

• The total applied mmf is required for the flow of flux in a

series combination of cast steel, sheet steel and two air
gaps.

• Sheet Steel :

• Cast Steel
B-H Curve
 • The magnetic circuit consists of one cast steel element,
Example 2 one sheet steel element and two air gaps. Assume that
fringing is negligible.

• The total applied mmf is required for the flow of flux in a

series combination of cast steel, sheet steel and two air
gaps.

• Sheet Steel :

• Cast Steel
 • The magnetic circuit consists of one cast steel element,
Example 2 one sheet steel element and two air gaps. Assume that
fringing is negligible.

• The total applied mmf is required for the flow of flux in a

series combination of cast steel, sheet steel and two air
gaps.

• Sheet Steel :

• Cast Steel :

• Air Gaps :

500 500
Magnetic circuit in parallel
• In case of parallel circuit, the same mmf is applied across the reluctances.
That is,
F = φ Req , where Req is the parallel combination of reluctances.
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
First, calculate the dimensions of the sheet steel core. The magnetic equivalent ckt is also shown.

6 6

6
6

6 6
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
Assume uniform flux density.
• Flux density in the centre leg is,
1 3.6 104
B1    0.9T
A1 0.02  0.02

6
B-H Curve
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
Assume uniform flux density.
• Flux density in the centre leg is,
1 3.6 104
B1    0.9T
A1 0.02  0.02
• From the magnetization curves for B1 =0.9T for sheet steel,
H1  150 A.t / m
• The mmf required for flux in the branch ‘ab’ through centre leg is 6
therefore,
Fab  H1l1  150  0.06  9 A.t
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
• The same mmf (of 9At) will establish a field intensity in the right limb
as,
F 9 9
H 2  ab    50 A.t / m
l2 (6  6  6)10  2 0.18
6

6
B-H Curve
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.
• The same mmf (of 9At) will establish a field intensity in the right limb
as,
F 9 9
H 2  ab    50 A.t / m
l2 (6  6  6)10  2 0.18
6
From Magnetization curves for H2=50A.t/m , B2≈0.35 T.

• The flux flowing through the right leg is therefore, 6

2  B2 A2  0.35  4 104  1.4 104Wb

6
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.

• To the left of ‘ab’, the flux is,

  1  2  (3.6  1.4)104  5 104Wb
6

6
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.

• To the left of ‘ab’, the flux is,

  1  2  (3.6  1.4)104  5 104Wb
6
• Thus, the flux density to left of ‘ab’ is,

5 104
B  4
 1.25T
A 4 10 6

6
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.

• To the left of ‘ab’, the flux is,

  1  2  (3.6  1.4)104  5 104Wb
6
• Thus, the flux density to left of ‘ab’ is,

5 104
B  4
 1.25T
A 4 10 6
• From the magnetization curves for B= 1.25 T, H= 500 A.t/m. So,
F  Hl  500  0.18  90 A.t
6
Example 3
A flux of 3.6 ×10-4 Wb is to be established in the centre leg of the sheet steel core in the
below figure (all dimenions in cm). Find the necessary current in the 300-turn coil.

• To the left of ‘ab’, the flux is,

  1  2  (3.6  1.4)104  5 104Wb
6
• Thus, the flux density to left of ‘ab’ is,

5 104
B  4
 1.25T
A 4 10 6
• From the magnetization curves for B= 1.25 T, H= 500 A.t/m. So,
F  Hl  500  0.18  90 A.t
6

• The required current in the 300-turn coil is,

F  Fab 90  9
i   0.33 A
N 300
Hysteresis

• Magnetic history of a material is also a factor.

• A demagnetized magnetic material has B=0,

when H=0.If a magnetizing force is applied, the
B-H relationship is of the type in the fig.
• For high H, the material gets saturated.
Magnetization and hysteresis

• Magnetic history of a material is also a factor. residual

• A demagnetized magnetic material has B=0,

when H=0.If a magnetizing force is applied, the
B-H relationship is of the type in the fig.
• For high H, the material gets saturated.
• If H is reduced to 0, B does not follow the same
path. There is residual magnetism. (Br)
Magnetization and hysteresis

• B returns to zero only when H=-Hc. The

value of Hc is called coercive force
• If H is made more negative, material
saturates. But, in negative direction.
Magnetization and hysteresis

• If magnetic field is reversed, positive

saturation occurs, but via a different
path.
• This phenomenon of non-conformity of
‘increase’ and ‘decrease’ curves, is
called as hysteresis.
Hysteresis Loop
• Thus, when a magnetic material is magnetized, the original state
is not returned to when magnetizing force is removed.
• If the magnetizing force is due to an AC, a hysteresis loop results
in every cycle.
Hysteresis Loss
• The hysteresis caused by cyclic
magnetization-demagnetization leads to
some magnetizing energy to be lost.
(01 – 12) .
Hysteresis Loss
• The hysteresis caused by cyclic
magnetization-demagnetization leads to
some magnetizing energy to be lost.
(01 – 12) .
• The area of the B-H loop gives the amount of
power lost as heat in the cyclic
magnetization.
• Less area  Less loss.
• Emprical formula.
• Kh and n depend on core material. f is frequency of
magnetizing cycle
• Steinmetz Exponent n is approximately 1.6
Eddy Current Loss
• If the core is solid, there can also Eddy current loss.
• Localized eddy currents cause induced voltages which in turn result in I2R
losses.
• Reduced by using laminated core.
• Core material is in sheets separated by insulating material.
• Loss :
END

42