Magnetic Circuits

Module 3
Magnetic field
• The space around which magnetic lines of force act.
• Strong near the magnet and weakens at points away from
the magnet.
Magnetic lines of force:
Closed path radiating from north pole, passes through the
surrounding, terminates at south pole and is from south to
north pole within the body of the magnet.
Properties:
• Each line forms a closed loop and never intersect each other.
• Lines are like stretched elastic cords.
• Lines force exert lateral pressure, that is they tend to bulge out side ways
• Lines of magnetic flux that are parallel and in the same direction, repel one
another.
Magnetic Materials
Properties:
Points in the direction of geometric north and south pole when
suspended freely and attracts iron fillings.
Classification :
• Natural Magnets
• Temporary magnets (exhibits these properties when subjected to
external force)
• Non-magnetic materials.
Electromagnets: N

• Principle: An electric current flowing in a

conductor creates a magnetic field around it.
• Strength of the field is proportional to the
amount of current in the coil.
• The field disappears when the current is turned
off.
I
• A simple electromagnet consists of a coil of
insulated wire wrapped around an iron core.
• Widely used as components of motors,
generators, relays etc.
Magnetic flux (Φ):
Number of magnetic lines of force created in a magnetic circuit.
Unit of magnetic flux : Weber (Wb)

Analogy: Electric Current, I

Magneto Motive Force (MMF)
The “pressure” on the system to establish magnetic lines of force is
determined by the applied magneto motive force, which is directly related to
the number of turns and current of the magnetizing coil as appearing in the
following equation
Where F – ampere-turns (At)
N – turns(t) F=NI
I = amperes (A)
Magneto Motive Force can also be defined in terms of
(i) MMF, F = ΦS, (flux x reluctance) Analogy: EMF, V=IR
where ‘Φ’ is the magnetic flux and ‘S’ is the Reluctance of the magnetic path.
Also, For Electromagnets:
(ii) MMF=magnetic field strength (H) x length of magnetic flux path (l)
Permeability (µ)
• A magnetic material, when placed in a magnetic field, acquires
magnetism due to induction. The measure of the degree to which the
lines of force of the magnetic field can penetrate or permeate the
medium is called absolute permeability of the medium. It is denoted by
the symbol µ.
• Ferromagnetic materials have a very high level of permeability, while
nonmagnetic materials such as air and wood have very low levels.
• The permeability of all non-magnetic materials, including air
represented by µo.
• The ratio of the permeability of the material to that of air is called the
relative permeability.
Absolute permeability (µ), relative permeability (µr), permeability of free
space or air (µ0)

• The absolute permeability (µ) of a medium or magnetic material can also

be expressed in terms of its relative permeability µr, and the permeability
of free space or air (µ0).
• The relative permeability of a magnetic material may be defined as the
ratio of the flux density produced in the material to the flux density
produced in vacuum or in a non-magnetic core provided the magnetic field
strength is same in both the cases. It is denoted by µr. The value of relative
permeability of a ferromagnetic material varies considerably with the
working value of magnetic flux density (B).
• The magnetic conductivity of iron as compared to that of air is called
permeability.
Permeability (µ)
μ=B/H
Unit: Henry / meter
Permeability of free space or air or non magnetic material μ0=4*Π*10-7
Henry/m
Relative permeability, μr = μ/μ0
Reluctance
The reluctance of a material to the setting up of magnetic flux lines in
the material is determined by the following equation:

Magnetic Field Strength (H)

The magneto motive force per meter length of the magnetic circuit
H = (N I) / l
Unit : AT / meter
Analogy: Electric field strength
Relation between Magnetic Flux Density(B)
and Field Intensity (H)
• At any point in the magnetic field, field strength or field intensity H is the
force maintaining the magnetic flux and producing a particular value of flux
density B at that point. Hence the field intensity H is a cause, The flux
density B is the effect. Thus, the flux density can be assumed proportional
to the field intensity in a magnetic field, that is in free space,
B=μ0H

• The flux density B also depends upon the nature of the medium. Thus, the
relative permeability of the medium is the flux density at any point in a
magnetic field is given by.
B=μ0 μr H
 Ohms law of Magnetic circuits and Reluctance (S)
Opposition of a magnetic circuit to the setting up of magnetic flux in it.

S=F/ɸ
Unit: AT / Wb Analogy Resistance
Magnetic circuit Vs Electric circuits
The complete closed path followed Equivalent Electric circuit
by any group of magnetic lines of flux

Mean magnetic path length (l) = 2 π r

Area (A) = π r 2
Magnetic Vs Electrical circuit
Similarities:
Electric circuit Magnetic circuit
Quantity Unit Quantity Unit
EMF (E=IR) Volt (V) MMF (F=ɸS) Ampere-turns
Current (I) Ampere (A) Flux (ɸ) Weber (Wb)

Current density (J) A/ m2 Flux density (B) Wb / m2 or Tesla

Ampere-turns/Wb,
Resistance (R) Ohm (Ω) Reluctance (S)
rels
Electric field Volts/m Magnetic field Ampere-turns/m
strength (E) strength (H)

Conductivity (σ) Siemen/m Permeability, µ Henry/m

σ=l/RA µ=l/SA
Dissimilarities in Electrical and Magnetic Circuits

Electric circuits Magnetic circuits

Current actually flows in the circuit. In magnetic circuit Flux does not flow, it is only assumed to flow for
flux is created, and it is not a flow. finding out certain magnetic effects.
Energy is needed till the current flows Energy is needed only to create the magnetic flux
Resistance of the circuit is independent of the current Reluctance of the circuit changes with the magnetic
flux
Laws of magnetic circuits
All the laws applicable to electric circuits such as Ohms Law, Kirchhoff's
laws, etc. can be applied to magnetic circuits simply by replacing the
electrical terms with the corresponding magnetic terms.
Series and Parallel magnetic circuits
Series Magnetic circuit
The total reluctance of the complete magnetic circuit will be equal to the sum of
the reluctances of various portions
S=S1+S2+S3+….
Also the total mmf required to establish the given flux in the magnetic circuit is
equal to the sum of the mmfs necessary to establish the flux through the various
parts of the circuit,
Total mmf = F1+F2+F3
F = H1l1+H2l2+H3l3
𝐵1 𝐵2 𝐵3
Total mmf (F) = 𝑙1 + 𝑙2 + 𝑙3
𝜇1 𝜇2 𝜇3
Where l1, l2, l3 etc. are the magnetic flux path lengths in the various parts of the
magnetic circuit and 𝜇1, 𝜇2, 𝜇3 etc. are the absolute permeability of the various
parts of the magnetic circuit.
B-H curve
Calculation of Ampere Turns
for the air gap
Series parallel magnetic circuit

Figure shows a magnetic frame, in which magnetic circuits exists in parallel symmetrical pairs. The common section
generally known as central core or limb is wound with a certain number of turns, establishing a total flux ф frame
consists of two outer limbs, which are mainly to provide a path for magnetic flux. The total flux ф divides into two
parts and follows through the outer limbs D and as shown in the above figure (a).
Series parallel magnetic circuits with air gap
In the air gap, the flux lines tend to bow out, a phenomenon known as fringing. To
account for this effect, we approximate it by adding the length of the gap to the
depth and width when computing the effective gap area. As a result, the area of
the air gap becomes larger than that of the iron core. Customarily, we consider this
by adding the length of the gap to each dimension of the air-gap cross-section.
Coupled Circuits – Magnetically Coupled Circuits
Definition of Basic Terms
Self Inductance of an Inductor
It is the property of the electric conductor by which the change in
current produces an emf (electro motive force)
The emf induced in the coil opposes the very cause that produces it.
By Lenz Law

so the sign of the induced e.m.f is represented with negative sign.

By Faraday’s Law when a time varying flux links with a stationary coil, it
induces an emf by the principle of electromagnetic induction

Where
N – is the no. of turns in the coil (i.e. inductor)
dφ/dt is the rate of change of flux linking the coil
Equating equ. 1 and equ. 2
At sinusoidal steady state condition

Where N φ is called the flux linkage and can be represented with ψ

Where
v1 – voltage applied across the first coil
v2 – voltage applied across the second coil
i1 – current flowing through the first coil
i2 – current flowing through the second coil
N1 – number of turns of first coil
N2 – number of turns of second coil
L1 – inductance of First coil
L2- inductance of second coil
Φ1 – flux produced by first coil
Φ2 – flux produced by second coil
Let
L1 and L2 are two inductances, both are magnetically coupled. (i.e flux produced
by L1 links with L2 and vice-versa
Φ1 produced by i1 can be divided into two components
Φ1= Φ11+ Φ12 ---------- 1
Where Φ 11 is the flux linking with L1
Φ12 is the flux linking with L2
Similarly
Φ2= Φ21+ Φ22 ------------ 2
Where Φ21 flux links with L1 from L2
Φ22 flux links with L2 from L2
Mutual Inductance Definition (M) (unit Henry)
Mutual inductance is defined as the ability to induce an e.m.f in one coil, due to
the change of current in another coil.
Voltage induced in second coil due to the change of current in first coil.

Change of current in the first coil, changes the rate of flux linking with
second coil thereby induces an e.m.f by Faradays Law’s of
electromagnetic induction
Equating equ. 3 and 4

At sinusoidal steady state conditions

Similarly we can write

If the coupling between the two coils were good then maximum flux links
K – is the measure of co-efficient of coupling
K is the nothing but fraction of total flux which links the other coil

K value lies between 0 and 1 0<k<1

• 0 – means no coupling
• 1 means 100% coupling
K in terms of M
Multiplying numerator and denominator with Φ1 Φ2 and regrouping the terms
Dot rule for Inductively coupled coils
1. If currents enters or leaves the coil’s dotted end in both coils, then
the sign of mutual inductance or mutually induced emf will be
positive
2. If in one coil current enters in the dotted end, where as in another
coil current leaves the dotted end, then the sign of mutual
inductance or mutually induced emf will be negative
Types of connections in coupled coils
1. Series aiding
2. Series opposing
3. Parallel aiding
4. Parallel opposing
Series connected Coupled coils
• Series Aiding
Parallel connected coupled coils
Total Input Impedance
I = I1+I2

• Input impedance = V/I

Magnetically coupled coils