EC 09 403 Electronic Circuits

Inductors

Module 1

4. Inductors
An inductor is a coil of wire wound according to various designs, with or without a core of ferromagnetic
material, to concentrate the magnetic flux resulting from current flowing in the wire.
Inductors provide us with a means of storing electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field. Typical
applications of inductors include chokes, filters and frequency selective circuits (when is used in conjunction
with one or more capacitors). The electrical characteristics of an inductor are determined by a number of
factors including the material of the core, the number of turns, and the physical dimensions of the coil.
Inductance is the property of a coil which gives rise to the opposition to a change in the value of
current flowing in it.
A real coil comprises inductance (L) and a small resistance (R). Any change in the current applied to
a coil/inductor will result in an induced voltage appearing across it.
Current flowing in a wire or coil produces a magnetic field around itself, and if the
current suddenly stops, the magnetic field held out in space by the current will collapse
back into the wire or coil.
The measurement unit of inductance is Henry (H), 1H= 1W/1A (1 Weber /1 ampere). A coil has an
inductance of 1H if a voltage of 1V is induced across it when a current changing at the rate of 1 A/s is flowing
in it.
Because many of you dont find useful a demonstration of a coil inductance we present now a few methods
about how to calculate the inductance of a coil.

4.1 Series and Parallel Connection of Inductors

In order to obtain a particular value of inductance inductors may be connected in either series or parallel as
shown below:
For series connected inductors, the equivalent inductance will be equal
with:
L=L1+L2++Ln
while for the parallel inductor connection the equivalent inductance of
circuit is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual
inductance, like in this formula:
1/L= 1/L1 + 1/L2 + + 1/Ln .
4.2 Classified by the numbers of layers , coils can be: Single layer inductor , Multilayer inductor.

To calculate Single layer coil you can use the formula:

,where : d is the diameter of the coil, in mm; l - coil length in mm
n - number of turns Or you can use the Wheeler formula :
where : L = inductance (in microhenries) r = radius of coil (in inches)
N = number of turns l = length of winding (in inches )

Ramesh K. MEA Engg. College

EC 09 403 Electronic Circuits

Inductors

Module 1

For Multilayer coil you can use Wheeler formula :

, where : d is the diameter of the coil, in mm; l - coil length in mm, h - height
coil, in mm
Also the air-core planar spiral inductor can be calculated with the Wheeler formula :

, where L = inductance in microhenries

r = radius to center of windings in inches
w = width of the conductor in inches
n = # of turns
If you want to calculate Spiral Wound Coils inductance, you can calculate the inductance with this Wheeler
formula:
,where : L = self inductance in micro
henrys
N = total number of turns
r = mean radius in inches
b = depth of coil in inches.

4.2 Construction of a Transformer

In order to keep the core loss to a minimum, the core of a transformer is built up of thin laminations
of highly permeable ferromagnetic material such as silicon-sheet steel. Silicon steel is used because
of its nonaging properties and low magnetic losses. The lamination's thickness varies from 0.014
inch to 0.024 inch. A thin coating of varnish is applied to both sides of the lamination in order to
provide high interlamination resistance. The process of cutting the laminations to the proper size
results in punching and shearing strains. These strains cause an increase in the core loss. In order to
remove the punching and shearing strains, the laminations are subjected to high temperatures in a
controlled environment for some time. It is known as the annealing process.
Basically two types of construction are in common use for the transformers: shell type and core
type. In the construction of a shell-type transformer, the two windings are usually wound over the
same leg of the magnetic core, as shown in Figure 4.1. In a core-type transformer, shown in Figure
4.2, each winding may be evenly split and wound on both legs of the rectangular core. The
nomenclature, shell type and core type, is derived from the fact that in a shell-type transformer the
core encircles the windings, whereas the windings envelop the core in a core-type transformer.

Figure 4.1: Shell-type transformer.

Ramesh K. MEA Engg. College

Figure 4.2: Core-type transformer.