9/2/2022

Lesson 2: Magnetic Circuits-

Quantities and Definitions
ET 332a
Dc Motors, Generators and Energy Conversion
Devices

Learning Objectives
After this presentation you will be able to:

 Explain how magnetic flux lines emanate from permanent

magnets and produce force
 Define flux density, magnetomotive force, magnetic field
intensity, permeability, and reluctance using mathematical
equations.
 Identify the parts of a magnetization curve
 Perform calculations using magnetic quantities

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Magnetic Fields and Polarity

Permanent Magnets Direction convention: From N to S
Magnetic
Field
Flux Density, B
Number of flux lines/ unit area
N
A1
A2
A1
F
S Mathematically B 
A
A2
Where:
Flux lines B = flux density (Teslas ,T or Wb/m2)
Symbol: F A = area (m2)
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Units: Webers (Wb) F= flux (Wb)

Magnetic Forces
Magnetic field converted to mechanical force

Opposite
Poles S N S N
Attract No flux
Force Force
bunching

Flux
Like Poles
S N N S bunching
Repel
causes
Force Force repulsion
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Electromagnetism
Currents flowing in wires produce magnetic flux

Current
I
Voltage
Source, V

Y1 Y1 X1 X1
Direction of flux line
(Conventional current)
Y1 I into X1 I into
page page

Right-hand Rule
Thumb – current
Fingers –direction of
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flux

Magnetomotive Force of a Coil

N = number of
turns in coil

Given a coil

Magnetomotive Force (MMF) F

Mathematically F=N I
Where F = MMF (A-t)
N = number of turns in coil (t)
I = current in coil (A)

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Magnetic Field Intensity of a Coil

L Magnetic field intensity, H
(MMF gradient of coil)
Amount of MMF dropped over
length

NI F
Mathematically H 
L L

Where: H = Magnetic field intensity (Oersteds, A-t/m)

L = path length (meters)
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Reluctance of Magnetic Circuits

Reluctance –opposition to flux. Similar to R in dc electric circuit

Ferromagnetic core
(iron)

+ L = mean path Core has cross

- length (m) sectional area
V
A (m2) = LxW
L

W
F
Where: F = MMF (A-t)
Magnetic Circuit F NI
F  R = Reluctance (A-t/Wb)
Relationship R R F = flux (Wb)
F N = coil turns (t)
So R
8 F I = coil current (A)

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Reluctance of Magnetic Circuits

Coil reluctance related to core geometry and material
From previous math relationships F  HL
F  BA
Substitute into equation from last slide and simplify
L
R
B
 A
H
B and H depend on magnetic core material and relationship is usually non-linear

Electric analogy H Electric field potential

9 B Current density

Magnetization Curves
(B-H curves)
Plot magnetic field intensity (H) Vs flux density (B) on semi-log plots
Saturation
Region
B (T)
Linear Knee
Scale DB Region
DH B/H slope of curve
at given B
Magnetic circuit non-
linear due to magnetic low high very high
saturation
H (A-t/m or Oersteds) Logarithmic scale

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Magnetization Curves
Free
B-H curves different for each type of material Space

Free space B-H

curve is linear, but
permeability is very
low (hard to
magnetize)

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Magnetic Permeability
Permeability - Amount of magnetic field intensity required to produce a
given flux density for a given material.

B
Mathematically m
H
Where: B = flux density (Wb/m2)
H = magnetic field intensity (A-t/m)
m = permeability (Wb/A-t-m)

Characteristics:
• similar to resistivity in conductors
• not a constant for a given material
• larger m, less H required to produce given B
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Relative Permeability
Relative permeability - Ratio of material’s permeability to that of free space

m
mr 
m0
Where:
m0 = permeability of free space
(4p x 10-7 Wb/A-t-m)
m = permeability of material (Wb/A-t-m)
mr = relative permeability (dimensionless)

Permeability, m, found from B-H plots. Experimental results of exciting magnetic

material with current and measuring B

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Reluctance formulas In Terms of

Permeability
R depends on:
type of magnetic material m
length of circuit, L
cross-sectional area of circuit, A

so L
R
mA

m r.m 0 m from previous relationship, so

L
R
m0 mr  A

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Calculation Examples
Computing flux density:
A magnetic flux of 0.0046 Wb passes through a core cross sectional
dimensions of 10 cm x 17 cm. Find the flux density.

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Calculation Examples
Computing MMF and H:
A coil for a solenoid is 20 cm long and made up of 200 turns of wire.
This wire has a dc resistance of 2.25 W. The solenoid is connected to a
100 V dc source. Find the MMF the coil produces and the magnetic
field intensity.

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Calculation Examples
Computing Reluctance and Permeability:
A magnetic core made of cast steel must carry a flux density of 1.0 T. It
has a total length of 1.56 m. and a cross-sectional area of .37 m2. Find the
permeability, the relative permeability and reluctance of the core.
Use B-H curve from text. For a B=1.0 T H = 800 A-t/m

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End Lesson 2 - Magnetic Circuits-

Quantities and Definitions
ET 332a
Dc Motors, Generators and Energy Conversion Devices

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