7 Magnetic Circuits: B, and State Their Units A H L A
7 Magnetic Circuits: B, and State Their Units A H L A
7 Magnetic Circuits: B, and State Their Units A H L A
7 Magnetic circuits
7.1 Introduction to magnetism and magnetic when freely suspended. The north-seeking end of the mag-
circuits net is called the north pole, N, and the south-seeking end
the south pole, S.
The study of magnetism began in the thirteenth cen- The area around a magnet is called the magnetic field
tury with many eminent scientists and physicists such and it is in this area that the effects of the magnetic force
as William Gilbert, Hans Christian Oersted, Michael produced by the magnet can be detected. A magnetic
Faraday, James Maxwell, André Ampère and Wilhelm field cannot be seen, felt, smelt or heard and therefore
Weber all having some input on the subject since. The is difficult to represent. Michael Faraday suggested that
association between electricity and magnetism is a fairly the magnetic field could be represented pictorially, by
recent finding in comparison with the very first under- imagining the field to consist of lines of magnetic flux,
standing of basic magnetism. which enables investigation of the distribution and density
Today, magnets have many varied practical appli- of the field to be carried out.
cations. For example, they are used in motors and The distribution of a magnetic field can be investigated
generators, telephones, relays, loudspeakers, computer by using some iron filings. A bar magnet is placed on a flat
hard drives and floppy disks, anti-lock brakes, cameras, surface covered by, say, cardboard, upon which is sprin-
fishing reels, electronic ignition systems, keyboards, t.v. kled some iron filings. If the cardboard is gently tapped
and radio components and in transmission equipment. the filings will assume a pattern similar to that shown in
The full theory of magnetism is one of the most complex Figure 7.1. If a number of magnets of different strength
of subjects; this chapter provides an introduction to the are used, it is found that the stronger the field the closer are
topic.
Magnetic circuits 53
the lines of magnetic flux and vice-versa. Thus a magnetic Magnetic flux density is the amount of flux passing
field has the property of exerting a force, demonstrated in through a defined area that is perpendicular to the direction PART
this case by causing the iron filings to move into the pat- of the flux:
tern shown. The strength of the magnetic field decreases 1
as we move away from the magnet. It should be realized, magnetic flux
of course, that the magnetic field is three dimensional in Magnetic flux density =
area
its effect, and not acting in one plane as appears to be the
case in this experiment.
If a compass is placed in the magnetic field in various The symbol for magnetic flux density is B. The unit
positions, the direction of the lines of flux may be deter- of magnetic flux density is the tesla, T, where 1 T =
mined by noting the direction of the compass pointer. The 1 Wb/m2 . Hence
direction of a magnetic field at any point is taken as that in
which the north-seeking pole of a compass needle points
when suspended in the field. The direction of a line of flux
B= tesla where A(m2 ) is the area
is from the north pole to the south pole on the outside of the A
magnet and is then assumed to continue through the mag-
net back to the point at which it emerged at the north pole.
Thus such lines of flux always form complete closed loops
or paths, they never intersect and always have a definite Problem 1. A magnetic pole face has a rectangular
direction. The laws of magnetic attraction and repulsion section having dimensions 200 mm by 100 mm. If the
can be demonstrated by using two bar magnets. In Fig- total flux emerging from the pole is 150 µWb, calculate
ure 7.2(a), with unlike poles adjacent, attraction takes the flux density.
place. Lines of flux are imagined to contract and the mag-
nets try to pull together. The magnetic field is strongest in
between the two magnets, shown by the lines of flux being
close together. In Figure 7.2(b), with similar poles adja- Flux = 150 µWb = 150 × 10−6 Wb
cent (i.e. two north poles), repulsion occurs, i.e. the two
Cross-sectional area A = 200 × 100 = 20 000 mm2
north poles try to push each other apart, since magnetic
flux lines running side by side in the same direction repel. = 20 000 ×10−6 m2
150 × 10−6
Flux density B = =
A 20 000 × 10−6
= 0.0075 T or 7.5 mT
Hence πr 2 = 0.1961
3. The maximum working flux density of a lifting elec-
0.1961 0.1961 tromagnet is 1.9 T and the effective area of a pole
from which r 2 = and radius r = face is circular in cross-section. If the total magnetic
π π
flux produced is 611 mWb determine the radius of
= 0.250 m the pole face. [32 cm]
i.e. the radius of the pole face is 250 mm 4. A current of 5 A is passed through a 1000-turn
coil wound on a circular magnetic circuit of radius
120 mm. Calculate (a) the magnetomotive force, and
(b) the magnetic field strength.
7.4 Magnetomotive force and magnetic field [(a) 5000 A (b) 6631 A/m]
strength
NI Hl 8000 × π × 30 × 10−2 µr varies with the type of magnetic material and, since it is
Since H = then, I = = a ratio of flux densities, it has no unit. From its definition,
l N 750
µr for a vacuum is 1.
Thus, current I = 10.05 A µ0 µr = µ, called the absolute permeability.
By plotting measured values of flux density B against
magnetic field strength H, a magnetization curve (or
Now try the following exercise. B–H curve) is produced. For non-magnetic materials
this is a straight line. Typical curves for four magnetic
Exercise 19 Further problems on flux, flux den- materials are shown in Figure 7.3.
sity, m.m.f. and magnetic field strength The relative permeability of a ferromagnetic mat-
erial is proportional to the slope of the B–H curve and
1. What is the flux density in a magnetic field of cross- thus varies with the magnetic field strength. The approxi-
sectional area 20 cm2 having a flux of 3 mWb? mate range of values of relative permeability µr for some
[1.5 T] common magnetic materials are:
2. Determine the total flux emerging from a magnetic Cast iron µr = 100–250 Mild steel µr = 200–800
pole face having dimensions 5 cm by 6 cm, if the
Silicon iron µr = 1000–5000 Cast steel µr = 300–900
flux density is 0.9 T. [2.7 mWb]
Mumetal µr = 200–5000 Stalloy µr = 500–6000
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Magnetic circuits 55
NI 300 × 5
(a) Magnetic field strength H = =
l 40 × 10−2
= 3750 A/m
(b) For a non-magnetic material µr = 1, thus flux density
B = µ0 H
i.e. B = 4π × 10−7 × 3750 = 4.712 mT
(c) Flux = BA = (4.712 × 10−3 )(4 × 10−4 )
= 1.885 µWb
Part of Material (Wb) A (m2 ) B= (T) H from l (m) mmf =
A
circuit graph Hl (A)
Ring Cast iron 0.3 × 10−3 10 × 10−4 0.3 1000 0.2 200
l = 2πr = 2 × π × 50 × 10−3 m; A = 400 × 10−6 m2 ; 6. Find the relative permeability of a piece of silicon
I = 0.5 A; = 0.1 × 10−3 Wb; µr = 200 iron if a flux density of 1.3 T is produced by a
magnetic field strength of 700 A/m [1478]
l
(a) Reluctance S =
µ0 µr A
7. Part of a magnetic circuit is made from steel
2 × π × 50 × 10−3
= of length 120 mm, cross-sectional area 15 cm2
(4π × 10−7 )(200)(400 × 10−6 ) and relative permeability 800. Calculate (a) the
= 3.125 × 106 /H reluctance and (b) the absolute permeability of the
mmf steel. [(a) 79 580 /H (b) 1 mH/m]
(b) S = i.e. mmf = S
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Magnetic circuits 57
7.7 Composite series magnetic circuits Problem 12. A silicon iron ring of cross-sectional
area 5 cm2 has a radial air gap of 2 mm cut into it.
For a series magnetic circuit having n parts, the total If the mean length of the silicon iron path is 40 cm,
reluctance S is given by: calculate the magnetomotive force to produce a flux
of 0.7 mWb. The magnetization curve for silicon is
S = S1 + S2 + · · · + Sn shown on page 55.
(This is similar to resistors connected in series in an There are two parts to the circuit — the silicon iron and
electrical circuit.) the air gap. The total mmf will be the sum of the mmf’s
of each part.
For the air gap: A tabular solution is shown on the next page.
The flux density will be the same in the air gap as in
the iron, i.e. 1.4 T. (This assumes no leakage or fringing mmf 2000
occurring.) Total circuit reluctance S = =
500 × 10−6
B 1.4 = 4 × 106 /H
For air, H = =
µ0 4π × 10−7
= 1 114 000 A/m
Problem 14. A section through a magnetic circuit of
uniform cross-sectional area 2 cm2 is shown in Fig-
Hence the mmf for the air gap = Hl ure 7.5. The cast steel core has a mean length of 25 cm.
The air gap is 1 mm wide and the coil has 5000 turns.
= 1 114 000 × 2 × 10−3 The B–H curve for cast steel is shown on page 55.
Determine the current in the coil to produce a flux
= 2228 A density of 0.80 T in the air gap, assuming that all the
flux passes through both parts of the magnetic circuit.
Total mmf to produce a flux of 0.7 mWb = 660 + 2228
= 2888 A
B l1 l1 H
then µr = . Thus S1 = =
µ0 H B BA
µ0 A
Figure 7.4 µ0 H
Find the total mmf required to cause a flux of 500 µWb (25 × 10−2 )(750)
=
in the magnetic circuit. Determine also the total circuit (0.8)(2 × 10−4 )
reluctance.
= 1 172 000/H
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Magnetic circuits 59
For the air gap: mmf necessary to establish a flux of 0.8 mWb
l2 l2 in the ring. Use the B–H curve for cast steel
Reluctance, S2 = = shown on page 55.
µ 0 µ r A2 µ 0 A2
(b) If a radial air gap 1.5 mm wide is cut in the
(since µr = 1 for air) ring of part (a) find the mmf now necessary to
maintain the same flux in the ring.
1 × 10−3 [(a) 270 A (b) 1860 A]
=
(4π × 10−7 )(2 × 10−4 )
= 3 979 000/H 3. For the magnetic circuit shown in Figure 7.6 find
the current I in the coil needed to produce a flux of
Total circuit reluctance S = S1 + S2 0.45 mWb in the air gap. The silicon iron magnetic
circuit has a uniform cross-sectional area of 3 cm2
= 1 172 000 + 3 979 000 and its magnetization curve is as shown on page 55.
[0.83 A]
= 5 151 000/H
Now try the following exercise. 4. A ring forming a magnetic circuit is made from
two materials; one part is mild steel of mean
Exercise 21 Further problems on composite length 25 cm and cross-sectional area 4 cm2 , and
series magnetic circuits (Where appropriate assume the remainder is cast iron of mean length 20 cm
µ0 = 4π × 10−7 H/m) and cross-sectional area 7.5 cm2 . Use a tabular
approach to determine the total mmf required to
1. A magnetic circuit of cross-sectional area 0.4 cm2 cause a flux of 0.30 mWb in the magnetic circuit.
consists of one part 3 cm long, of material having Find also the total reluctance of the circuit. Use the
relative permeability 1200, and a second part 2 cm magnetization curves shown on page 55.
long of material having relative permeability 750. [550 A, 1.83 × 106 /H]
With a 100 turn coil carrying 2 A, find the value of
flux existing in the circuit. [0.195 mWb]
5. Figure 7.7 shows the magnetic circuit of a relay.
2. (a) A cast steel ring has a cross-sectional area of When each of the air gaps are 1.5 mm wide find the
600 mm2 and a radius of 25 mm. Determine the mmf required to produce a flux density of 0.75 T in
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Figure 7.8
Figure RT2.1