PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor

MODULE 3
Sub Module 3.11

INDUCTANCE / INDUCTOR

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor

Contents

INDUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
ELECTRICITY FROM MAGNETISM --------------------------------------------------------------1
FACTORS AFFECTING INDUCED EMF ---------------------------------------------------------- 1

FARADAYS LAW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION ----------------------------------------------------- 2
SELF INDUCTANCE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
DEFINITION OF THE HENRY UNIT ----------------------------------------------------- 4

THE RL TIME CONSTANT ----------------------------------------------------------------- 6

INDUCTANCES IN SERIES OR PARALLEL----------------------------------------------- 7

MUTUAL INDUCTANCE ------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

FACTORS AFFECTING MUTUAL INDUCTION --------------------------------------------------- 8
FACTOR AFFECTING MUTUAL INDUCTANCE -------------------------------------------------- 8
ENERGY STORED IN MAGNETIC FIELD ---------------------------------------------- 9
SERIES COILS WITH M (MUTUAL INDUCTANCE) ---------------------------------- 9
HOW TO MEASURE LM ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

LENZ’S LAW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------12

SELF-INDUCED VOLTAGE VL ------------------------------------------------------------13

POWER LOSS IN AN INDUCTOR ------------------------------------------------------- 14

USES OF INDUCTORS ---------------------------------------------------------------------15

IRON CORE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
VARIABLE POWDERED IRON CORE ----------------------------------------------------------- 15
IRON CORE TRANSFORMER ------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- i Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
INDUCTION FACTORS AFFECTING INDUCED EMF

In 1831, a scientist called Michael Faraday discovered that an
electric current was produced by the relative movement of a
magnet and a coil, a phenomenon which is now known as
electromagnetic induction.
ELECTRICITY FROM MAGNETISM
If a magnet is moved into or out of a coil of wire and if the coil is
connected to a meter, the meter records a flow of current as
long as the magnet is moving.
By experiment, the following factors may be noted:
 The faster the magnet (or coil) is moved, the greater is the
deflection obtained on the meter. This shows that the
magnitude of the emf is proportional to the rate of relative
movement.
 Repeating the experiment using a stronger magnet results
in greater meter deflection for the same rates of
movement. Hence the magnitude of the emf is
proportional to the flux density.
 Reversal of the direction of motion produces meter
deflecting in the opposite sense. The direction of the
induced emf therefore depends on the direction of motion.
 Using the south pole of the magnet instead of the north
results in meter deflections in the opposite sense, showing
that the direction of the induced emf depends upon the
direction of the magnetic field.
 If more turns are used on the coil, meter deflection is
greater and is proportional to the number of turns (N).

These results are summarized in two laws, as follows.

FIGURE: 3.11.1
The same result is obtained if the magnet is kept stationary and
the loop is moved. The meter therefore shows that there is a
current as long as there is relative movement between the loop
(coil) and the magnet (magnetic field). Note that energy is not
being produced but simply converted from mechanical energy to
electrical energy.

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 1 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
FARADAYS LAW If the permanent magnet is moved up to and along the axis of
the coil the galvanometer will show a current is flowing in the
When the magnetic flux through the coil is made to vary, an emf coil. Since there is no battery connected in the coil circuit there
is induced in the coil. The magnitude of the induced emf is must have been an electromotive force induced, hence
proportional to the rate of change of flux. induction in the coil. Immediately the magnet stops moving the
d d  change of flux
Hence, E  where current in the coil circuit reduces to zero.
dt dt  time taken to change
When the magnet is moved toward or away from the coil its
magnetic field moves with it and it is this magnetic field cutting
The emf is also dependent on the number of turns on the coil the coil conductors which generates the emf across the coil
(N), the greater the number of turns on the coil, the greater emf. conductors. Conversely when the coil is moved towards, or
away from the magnet, the magnetic flux is cut by the coil and
d
E  N volts again an emf is induced in the coil. The direction of current flow
dt will depend on the relative direction of the movement of the coil
Hence, we may write:
or magnet.
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
What will determine the size of the emf induced? Since the
number of turns of the coil is fixed, and the size of the
Consider a coil wound with a large number of turns connected permanent magnetic field
to a centre zero reading GALVANOMETER.
is also fixed, then the only other quantity which can change the
size of the emf induced is the SPEED at which the magnet is
moved. So, when the magnet is moved faster the emf is greater
and, of course, vice versa.

FIGURE: 3.11.2

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 2 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
All circuits have inductance even a straight conductor, but if a
straight piece of wire is formed into a coil the number of flux
linkages increases and so does the inductance.

A further increase in inductance is achieved by increasing the

flux density. This depends on the area, the length of the coil
and the permeability of material in which flux is established,

N2o r A
Thus, L = l Henries
FIGURE: 3.11.3
N = Number of Turns

SELF INDUCTANCE or = Absolute Permeability

A = Area in square metres

When current through a coil changes, the changing flux induces
an emf that opposes the current flow. This emf is the result of I = Length of coil in meters (not wire)
self-inductance and is called ‘back emf’. The term ‘self-
inductance’ is often replaced merely by inductance. The value length l
As reluctance (S) = o r A = S
of back emf is given by: o x r x A
dI
E = -L x dt

dI N2
Where L is the inductance in henries, and dt the rate of change and L = S

of current. dl
Also by transposition of E = -L × dt
The minus indicates back emf.
dt
The unit of inductance is the henry and is based on the L = -E × dl
equation. If current changing at a rate of 1 amp a second
induces an emf of 1 volt then the inductance is 1 henry.

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 3 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
DEFINITION OF THE HENRY UNIT
Example 1:

As illustrated one Henry is the amount of inductance that allows The current in an inductor changes from 12 to 16 A in 1s. How much
one volt to be induced when the current changes at the rate of is the di / dt rate of current change in amperes per second?
one ampere per second. The formula is:
Answer

The di is the difference between 16 and 12, or 4 A in 1s. Then

di 4 A

dt s
Example 2:
The current in an inductor changes by 50 mA in 2 s. How much is
the di / dt rate of current change in amperes per second?

Answer:
FIGURE: 3.11.4
di 50  10 3

when a change of 1 A/s induces 1 V across L, its inductance dt 2  10 6
equals 1 H. Where V L is in volts and di / dt is the current
change in amperes per second.  2510 3

Again the symbol d is used for delta   to indicate a small

di A
 25,000
dt s
change. The factor di / dt for the current variation with respect
to time really specifies how fast the current’s associated
magnetic flux is cutting the conductor to produce VL.

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 4 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
Example 3: 1  10 3  2  10 6

How much is the inductance of a coil that induces 40 V when its 50  10 3
current changes at the rate of 4 A/s?
2 10 3 2
Answer:  3

50 10 50

VL
L L  0.04 H
di / dt
Notice that the smaller inductance in Example 4 produces much
40
 more VL than the inductance in Example 3. The very fast
4
current change in Example 4 is equivalent to 25,000 A/s.
L  10 H

Example 4:

How much is the inductance of a coil that induces 1000V when

its current changes at the rate of 50 mA in 2 s?

Answer:

For this example the 1 / dt factor in the denominator of the

formula can be inverted to the numerator.

VL V  dt
L  L
di / dt di

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 5 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
THE RL TIME CONSTANT

Because the inductors basic action is to oppose a change in its

current, it then follows that the current cannot change
instantaneously in the inductor. A certain time is required for the
current to make a change from one value to another. The rate at
which the current changes is determined by a time constant
represented by the greek letter tau (τ). The time constant for the
RL circuit is:

In a series RL circuit, the current will increase to 63% of its full

value in 1 time constant after the circuit is closed. This buildup
of course is similar to the buildup of voltage in a capacitor when
charging an RC circuit. Both follow an exponential curve and
reach 99% value after the 5th time constant. FIGURE: 3.11.11
illustrates this characteristic.
FIGURE: 3.11.5

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 6 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
INDUCTANCES IN SERIES OR PARALLEL
Example:

As shown the total inductance of coils connected in series is the Inductance L1 is 5 mH and L2 is 10 mH. How much is LT ?
sum of the individual L values, as for series R . Since the
series coils have the same current, the total induced voltage is a Answer:
result of the total number of turns. Therefore, in series: LT  5 mH  10 mH  15 mH

LT  L1  L2  L3  ...etc With coils connected in parallel, the total inductance is

calculated from the reciprocal formula:
where LT is in the same units of inductance as 1 2
L , L , and L3 .
1 1 1 1
this formula assumes no mutual induction between the coils.     ....etc
LT L1 L2 L3

Again, no mutual induction is assumed, as illustrated.

Inductances in Series without Mutual Coupling

FIGURE:3.11.6 Inductances in Parallel Without Mutual Coupling
FIGURE: 3.11.7
All the shortcuts for calculating parallel R can be used with
parallel L , since both are based on the reciprocal formula. In
this example LT is 1 / 2  8  4 mH .

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 7 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
MUTUAL INDUCTANCE FACTOR AFFECTING MUTUAL INDUCTANCE

If the changing flux in a coil links with the turns of a second coil, If all the flux of a primary coil links with all the turns of a
the two coils are said to be mutually coupled and mutual secondary then 100% coupling exists. Sometimes it is more
inductance exists between them. The unit of mutual inductance convenient to use a coupling factor - k.
is Henry and is defined by:
Maximum Coupling (100%) is represented by a k value of 1.
If the primary current, changing at a rate of 1 amp per
second, induces a secondary voltage of 1v, then the Thus, if flux linkage is 97% the coupling factor is 0.97.
mutual inductance is 1 henry. Given that mutual coupling depends on k then so does the
dlprimary mutual inductance. The relationship is given by: M = k L1 L2
Thus: Es = M × dt
Where L1 and L2 are individual inductances of the mutually
FACTORS AFFECTING MUTUAL INDUCTION coupled coils, which depends on

In the above equation It is observed that that factors affecting N2o r A

L = l Henries
the induced voltage through mutual induction depends on

a) Rate of change of current in the primary coil N = Number of Turns

b) Mutual Inductance
or = Absolute Permeability
If rate of change current increases in primary side, the induced
A = Area in square metres
voltage increase in secondary coil and the second factor is that
if the mutual inductance increases between two coils, the I = Length of coil in meters (not wire)
induced voltage increases on the second side in direct
proportion However, the value of k depends on:

a) Purpose of coils involved

b) Relative positions of the coils

Frequency or rate of change of current

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 8 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
and can be as high as 0.98 or as low as 0.0001.
of L2 To calculate the total inductance of two coils that are
ENERGY STORED IN MAGNETIC FIELD series-connected and have mutual inductance.

If we consider the theoretical case of a circuit with inductance LT  L1  L2  2M

only, all of the energy used in the circuit must go into the
magnetic field. It can be shown that the energy stored in the
The mutual inductance M is plus, increasing the total
magnetic field is given by equation:
inductance, when the coils are series-aiding, or minus when
Energy stored = ½ L I2 joules they are series-opposing to reduce the total inductance.

Where L is the inductance of the coil in Henries and I is the
current flowing through it in amps.
SERIES COILS WITH M (MUTUAL INDUCTANCE)
This case depends on the amount of mutual coupling and on
whether the coils are connected series-aiding or series-
opposing. Series-aiding
Note the large dots just above the coils. This method is
generally used to indicate the sense of the windings without the
need for showing the actual physical construction. Coils with
dots at the same end have the same direction of winding.
When current enters the dotted ends for two coils, their fields
are aiding and M has the same sense as L .

means that the common current produces the same direction of

magnetic field for the two coils. The series-opposing connection
results in opposite fields.

The coupling depends on the coil connections and direction of

winding. Reversing either one reverses the field. Inductances
L1 and L2 with the same direction of winding are connected
series-aiding as shown. However, they are series-opposing in
the other figure because L1 is connected to the opposite ends

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 9 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
HOW TO MEASURE LM When the mutual inductance is known, the coefficient of
coupling k can be calculated from the fact that M  k  L1 L2 .
The formula provides a method of determining the mutual
inductance between two coils L1 and L2 of known inductance.
First, the total inductance is measured for the series-aiding
connection. Let this be LTa . Then the connections to one coil
are reversed to measure the total inductance for the series-
opposing coils. Let this be LT0 . Then:

LTa  LT0
M
4

FIGURE: 3.11.8
Inductances L1 and L2 in Series but with Mutual Coupling M. (a)
Aiding magnetic Fields. (b) Opposing Magnetic Fields

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 10 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
Example 17: Coils may also be in parallel with mutual coupling. However,
the inverse relations with parallel connections and the question
Two series coils, each with an L of 250H, have a total of aiding or opposing fields make this case complicated.
inductance of 550 H connected series-aiding and 450 H Actually, it would hardly ever be used.
series-opposing.

a) How much is the mutual inductance M between the two

coils?
b) How much is the coupling coefficient k ?

Answer:
LTa  LT0
a M
4

550  450 100

 
4 4

M  25 H

b M  k L1 L2 or

M 25
k  
L1 L2 250 250

25 1
 
250 10

k  0 .1

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 11 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre
Category – B
LENZ’S LAW
A change of flux in a closed circuit induces an emf and sets up
a current. The direction of this current is such that its magnetic
field tends to oppose the change of flux. See diagram below.
Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
This formula is not strictly correct. A conductor must cut 108
lines of flux per second in order to induce 1 volt. That is the flux
must be
changing at a rate of 108 lines per second. The formula should
therefore be written as:

d
E  -N x 10 -8 volts
dt

FIGURE: 3.11.9

The direction of the induced emf as given by Lenz’s Law may

be shown in our equation by introducing a negative sign, but
remember that the negative sign is vectorial and not arithmetic.

Hence, d
E  -N volts
dt

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 12 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
SELF-INDUCED VOLTAGE VL Example 5:
How much is the self-induced voltage across a 4-H inductance
produced by a current change of 12 A/s?
The self-induced voltage across an inductance L produced by
a change in current di / dt can be stated as: Answer:

di di
VL   L VL  L
dt dt

where V L is in volts, L in henrys, and di / dt in amperes per  412

second. This formula is just inverted version of L  VL di / dt  ,
giving the definition of inductance. VL  48V

Actually, both versions are based on the formula: Example 6:

The current through a 200-mH L changes from 0 to 100 mA in
v  N d / dt  for magnetism 2 s . How much is VL ?.

This gives the voltage in terms of how much magnetic flux is cut Answer:
per second. When the magnetic flux associated with the current
di
varies the same as i , then the Formula for self-induced voltage VL  L
dt
gives the same results for calculating induced voltage.
Remember also that the induced voltage across the coil is
actually the result of inducing electrons to move in the 100 10 3
 200 10 3 
conductor, so that there is also an induced current. In using 2 10  6
formula to calculate V L , just multiply L by the di / dt factor.
VL  10,000V

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 13 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre
Category – B
Note the high voltage induced in the 200-mH inductance
because of the fast change in current.
The induced voltage is an actual voltage than can be measured,
although V L is produced only while the current is changing.
When di / dt is present for only a short time, V L is in the form of
a voltage-pulse.
POWER LOSS IN AN INDUCTOR
Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
In addition to copper loss, an iron-core coil (inductor) has two
iron losses. These are called HYSTERESIS LOSS and EDDY-
CURRENT LOSS. Hysteresis loss is due to power that is
consumed in reversing the magnetic field of the inductor core
each time the direction of current in the inductor changes.
Eddy-current loss is due to heating of the core by circulating
currents that are induced in the iron core by the magnetic field
around the turns of the coil. These currents are called eddy
currents and circulate within the iron core only.

Since an inductor (coil) consists of a number of turns of wire, All these losses dissipate power in the form of heat. Since this
and since all wire has some resistance, every inductor has a power cannot be returned to electrical circuit, it is lost power.
certain amount of resistance. Normally this resistance is small.
It is usually neglected in solving various types of ac circuit .
problems because the reactance of the inductor (the opposition
to alternating current, which will be discussed later) is so much
greater than the resistance that the resistance has a negligible
effect on the current.

However, since some inductors are designed to carry relatively

large amounts of current, considerable power can be dissipated
in the inductor even though the amount of resistance in the
inductor is small. This power is wasted power and is called
COPPER LOSS. The copper loss of an inductor can be
calculated by multiplying the square of the current in the
 
inductor by the resistance of the winding I 2 R .

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 14 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.11 – Inductance / Inductor
USES OF INDUCTORS

AIR CORE

This induction is normally used to concentrate a magnetic field

or control radio frequencies.

IRON CORE

Used for 60 Hz and audio frequency.

VARIABLE POWDERED IRON CORE

Variable inductor used for tuning purposes.

IRON CORE TRANSFORMER FIGURE: 3.11.10

Increase or decrease ac voltage from primary

L p to secondary Ls
.

ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.11- 15 Nov 2017