BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Topics to be Discussed
„ Magnetomotive Force (MMF).
„ Magnetic Field Strength (H).
„ Magnetic Permeability.
„ Reluctance (R).
„ Analogy between Electric and Magnetic
Circuits.
„ Composite Magnetic Circuit.
„ Magnetic Leakage and Fringing.
„ Air Gaps in Magnetic Circuits.
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 Introduction
„ Unlike electric field lines, the lines of magnetic
flux form closed loops.
„ A magnetic circuit is a closed path followed by
lines of magnetic flux.
„ A copper wire, because of its high conductivity,
confines the electric current within itself.
„ Similarly, a ferromagnetic material (such as iron
or steel), due to its high permeability, confines
magnetic flux within itself.
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 Magnetomotive Force (MMF)
„ The electric current is due to the existence of an
electromotive force (emf).
„ By analogy, we may say that in a magnetic circuit, the
magnetic flux is due to the existence of a magnetomotive
force (mmf).
„ mmf is caused by a current flowing through one or more
turns.
„ The value of the mmf is proportional to the current and
the number of turns.
„ It is expressed in ampere turns (At).
„ But for the purpose of dimensional analysis, it is
expressed in amperes.
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 Magnetic Field Strength (H)
„ The mmf per metre length of the magnetic circuit is
termed as the magnetic field strength, magnetic
field intensity, or magnetizing force.
„ It units are ampere-turns per metre (At/m) .
„ Its value is independent of the medium .

F IN
H= =
l l

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 Magnetic Permeability (μ)
„ If the core of the toroid is vacuum or air, the
magnetic flux density B in the core bears a
definite ratio to the magnetic field strength H.
„ This ratio is called permeability of free space.
„ Thus, for vacuum or air,
B
= μ 0 = 4π × 10 Tm/A
−7

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„ The flux produced by the given mmf is greatly
increased, if iron replaces the air in the core.
„ As a result, the flux density B also increases many
times.
„ In general, we can write B = μH.
„ μ is called the permeability of the material.
„ Normally, we write μ = μr μ0.
„ μr is called relative permeability (just a number).

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 Reluctance (R) and Permeance (G)
„ The current in an electric circuit is limited by the
presence of resistance of the electric circuit.
„ Similarly, the flux Φ in a magnetic circuit is
limited by the presence of the reluctance of the
magnetic circuit,
1 l 1 l
R = =
μ A μr μ0 A
The reciprocal of reluctance is known as
permeance (G).
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 Magnetic Circuit Theory
„ For a toroid, mmf, F = NI ampere-turns.
„ Because of this mmf, a magnetic field of
strength H is set up throughout the length l.
„ Therefore, F = Hl
„ If, B is the flux density, total flux is given as

Φ=B×A
Φ BA B we
„ Dividing, A getA A F
= = = μ = μr μ0 ⇒ Φ=
F Hl H l l l l /( μ r μ 0 A)
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 E
Comparing this with I=
R
We get R =
1 l
μ r μ0 A

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 Analogy between Electric and Magnetic Circuits

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 Example 1
„ Calculate the magnetomotive force (mmf)
required to produce a flux of 0.015 Wb
across an air gap of 2.5 mm long, having an
effective area of 200 cm2.
Solution :
Φ 0.015
B= = −4
= 0.75 T
A 200 × 10
B 0.75
H= = = 597 000 A/m
μ 0 4 π × 10 -7

F = Hl = 597 000 × 2.5 × 10 −3 = 1492 At

l1 l2
∴ Total Reluctance, R = R 1 + R 2 = +
μ1 A1 μ 2 A2
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 mmf of coil
∴ Total flux, Φ =
total reluctance
F NI
= =
R l1 l2
+
μ1 A1 μ 2 A2

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 Case 2 : (with air gap)
Total reluctance,
l1 l2
R = +
μ1 A μ0 A
1 ⎛ l1 ⎞
= ⎜⎜ + l2 ⎟⎟
μ0 A ⎝ ( μ1 / μ 0 ) ⎠
1 ⎛ l1 ⎞
= ⎜⎜ + l2 ⎟⎟
μ0 A ⎝ μ r ⎠

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„ Since the relative permeability μr (= μ1/ μ0) of
steel is very large (of the order of thousand),
the major contribution in the total reluctance R
is by the air-gap, though its length l2 may be
quite small (say, a few millimetres).

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 Magnetic Leakage and Fringing

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„ The flux lines, such as a, b and c, leak through
the core.
„ This is called leakage flux, since it does not
contribute to the useful flux passing through
the metallic ring.
„ We define leakage factor as the ratio of total
flux through the exciting winding to the useful
flux.
„ The value of the leakage factor for electrical
machines is about 1.15 to 1.25.
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„ There is another effect called fringing.
„ The useful flux passing across the air-gap
tends to bulge outward.
„ This happens because the magnetic flux lines
tend to repel each other in
„ Its effect is to cause a slight increase (say,
about 10 %) in the cross-sectional area at the
air gap.

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 Kirchhoff’s Laws
„ Kirchhoff’s Flux Law (KFL) : The total
magnetic flux towards a junction is equal to the
total magnetic flux away from that junction.
„ Kirchhoff’s Magnetomotive Force Law (KML)
: In a closed magnetic circuit, the algebraic
sum of the product of the magnetic field strength
and the length of each part of the circuit is
equal to the resultant magnetomotive force.

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Steps to solve a problem on magnetic circuit

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 Air Gaps in Magnetic Circuits
„ Two purposes :
1. To permit part of a magnetic circuit to
move, for example, in relays and in
electrical machines.
2. To make the magnetization characteristic of
the circuit more linear.

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 Review
„ Magnetomotive Force (MMF).
„ Magnetic Field Strength (H).
„ Magnetic Permeability.
„ Reluctance (R).
„ Analogy between Electric and Magnetic
Circuits.
„ Composite Magnetic Circuit.
„ Magnetic Leakage and Fringing.
„ Air Gaps in Magnetic Circuits.
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