Chapter 11: Inductors Under DC Conditions

You have learned that an electromotive force is developed whenever there is relative motion between a magnetic field and a conductor.

Electromotive force is a difference of potential or voltage which exists between two points in an electrical circuit. In generators and inductors the emf is developed by the action between the magnetic field and the electrons in a conductor. This is shown in Figure 1.

When a magnetic field moves through a stationary metallic conductor, electrons are dislodged from their orbits. The electrons move in a direction determined by the movement of the magnetic lines of flux This is shown below:

The electrons move from one area of the conductor into another area. The area that the electrons moved from has fewer negative charges (electrons) and becomes positively charged. The area the electrons move into becomes negatively charged. This is shown below:

The difference between the charges in the conductor is equal to a difference of potential (or voltage) This voltage caused by the moving magnetic field is called electromotive force (emf)

In simple terms, the action of a moving magnetic field on a conductor can be compared to the action of a broom. Consider the moving magnetic field to be a moving broom. As the magnetic broom moves along (through) the conductor, it gathers up and pushes electrons before it, as shown below

The area from which electrons are moved becomes positively charged, while the area into which electrons are moved becomes negatively charged. The potential difference between these two areas is the electromotive force or emf.

Even a perfectly straight length of conductor has some inductance. As you know, current in a conductor produces a magnetic field surrounding the conductor. When the current changes, the magnetic field changes. This causes relative motion between the magnetic field and the conductor, and an electromotive force (emf) is induced in the conductor. This emf is called a SELF-INDUCED EMF because it is induced in the conductor carrying the current. The emf produced by this moving magnetic field is also referred to as COUNTER ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (cemf). The polarity of the counter electromotive force is in the opposite direction to the applied voltage of the conductor. The overall effect will be to oppose a change in current magnitude. This effect is summarized by Lenz’s law which states that: THE INDUCED EME IN ANY CIRCUIT IS ALWAYS IN A DIRECTION TO OPPOSE THE EFFECT THAT PRODUCED IT.

If the shape of the conductor is changed to form a loop, then the electromagnetic field around each portion of the conductor cuts across some other portion of the same conductor. This is shown in its simplest form in Figure 2. A length of conductor is looped so that two portions of the conductor lie next to each other. These portions are labeled conductor 1 and conductor 2. When the switch is closed, current (electron flow) in the conductor produces a magnetic field around ALL portions of the conductor. For simplicity, the magnetic field (expanding lines of flux) is shown in a single plane that is perpendicular to both conductors. Although the expanding field of flux originates at the same time in both conductors, it is considered as originating in conductor 1 and its effect on conductor 2 will be explained. With increasing current, the flux field expands outward from conductor 1, cutting across a portion of conductor 2. This results in an induced emf in conductor 2 as shown by the dashed arrow. Note that the induced emf is in the opposite direction to (in OPPOSITION to) the battery current and voltage, as stated in Lenz’s law.

The direction of this induced voltage may be determined by applying the LEFT-HAND RULE FOR GENERATORS. This rule is applied to a portion of conductor 2 that is "lifted" and enlarged for this purpose in Figure 2(A). This rule states that if you point the thumb of your left hand in the direction of relative motion of the conductor and your index finger in the direction of the magnetic field, your middle finger, extended as shown, will now indicate the direction of the induced current which will generate the induced voltage (cemf) as shown.

In Figure 2(B), the same section of conductor 2 is shown after the switch has been opened. The flux field is collapsing. Applying the left-hand rule in this case shows that the reversal of flux MOVEMENT has caused a reversal in the direction of the induced voltage. The induced voltage is now in the same direction as the battery voltage. The most important thing for you to note is that the self-induced voltage opposes BOTH changes in current. That is, when the switch is closed, this voltage delays the initial buildup of current by opposing the battery voltage. When the switch is opened, it keeps the current flowing in the same direction by aiding the battery voltage.

Thus, from the above explanation, you can see that when a current is building up it produces an expanding magnetic field. This field induces an emf in the direction opposite to the actual flow of current. This induced emf opposes the growth of the current and the growth of the magnetic field. If the increasing current had not set up a magnetic field, there would have been no opposition to its growth. The whole reaction, or opposition, is caused by the creation or collapse of the magnetic field, the lines of which as they expand or contract cut across the conductor and develop the counter emf.

Since all circuits have conductors in them, you can assume that all circuits have inductance. However, inductance has its greatest effect only when there is a change in current. Inductance does NOT oppose current, only a CHANGE in current. Where current is constantly changing as in an ac circuit, inductance has more effect.

O4. What is meant by induced emf? By counter emf?

To increase the property of inductance, the conductor can be formed into a loop or coil. A coil is also called an inductor. Figure 3 and Figure 4 show a conductor formed into a coil. Current through one loop produces a magnetic field that encircles the loop in the direction as shown in figure Figure 3. As current increases, the magnetic field expands and cuts all the loops as shown in figure Figure 4. The current in each loop affects all other loops. The field cutting the other loop has the effect of increasing the opposition to a current change.

Inductors are classified according to core type. The core is the center of the inductor just as the core of an apple is the center of an apple. The inductor is made by forming a coil of wire around a core. The core material is normally one of two basic types: soft-iron or air. An iron-core inductor and its schematic symbol (which is represented with lines across the top of it to indicate the presence of an iron core) are shown, in Figure 5. The air-core inductor may be nothing more than a coil of wire, but it is usually a coil formed around a hollow form of some nonmagnetic material such as cardboard. This material serves no purpose other than to hold the shape of the coil. An air-core inductor and its schematic symbol are shown in figure Figure 6.

As stated before, the basic unit of inductance (L) is the HENRY (H), named after Joseph Henry, the co-discoverer with Faraday of the principle of electromagnetic induction. An inductor has an inductance of 1 henry if an emf of 1 volt is induced in the inductor when the current through the inductor is changing at the rate of 1 ampere per second. The relationship between the induced voltage, the inductance, and the rate of change of current with respect to time is stated mathematically as:

where E_ind is the induced emf in volts; L is the inductance in henrys; and ΔI is the change in current in amperes occurring in Δt seconds. The symbol Δ (Greek letter delta), means "a change in …​.". The henry is a large unit of inductance and is used with relatively large inductors. With small inductors, the millihenry is used. (A millihenry is equal to 1 x 10^-3 henry, and one henry is equal to 1,000 millihenrys.) For still smaller inductors the unit of inductance is the microhenry (μH). (A μH = 1 x 10^-6H, and one henry is equal to 1,000,000 microhenrys.)

When a battery is connected across a "pure" inductance, the current builds up to its final value at a rate determined by the battery voltage and the internal resistance of the battery. The current buildup is gradual because of the counter emf generated by the self-inductance of the coil. When the current starts to flow, the magnetic lines of force move outward from the coil. These lines cut the turns of wire on the inductor and build up a counter emf that opposes the emf of the battery. This opposition causes a delay in the time it takes the current to build up to a steady value. When the battery is disconnected, the lines of force collapse. Again these lines cut the turns of the inductor and build up an emf that tends to prolong the flow of current.

A voltage divider containing resistance and inductance may be connected in a circuit by means of a special switch, as shown in Figure 18(A). Such a series arrangement is called an LR series circuit.

When switch S, is closed (as shown), a voltage E_s appears across the voltage divider. At this instant the current will attempt to increase to its maximum value. However, this instantaneous current change causes coil L to produce a back EMF, which is opposite in polarity and almost equal to the EMF of the source. This back EMF opposes the rapid current change. Figure 18(B) shows that at the instant switch S; 18 closed, there is no measurable growth current (i_g), a minimum voltage drop is across resistor R, and maximum voltage exists across inductor L.

As current starts to flow, a voltage (e_r) appears across R, and the voltage across the inductor is reduced by the same amount. The fact that the voltage across the inductor (L) is reduced means that the growth current (i,) is increased and consequently eg is increased. Figure 18(B) shows that the voltage across the inductor (e,) finally becomes zero when the growth current (i_g) stops increasing, while the voltage across the resistor (e_R) builds up to a value equal to the source voltage (E_s).

Electrical inductance is like mechanical inertia, and the growth of current in an inductive circuit can be likened to the acceleration of a boat on the surface of the water. The boat does not move at the instant a constant force is applied to it. At this instant all the applied force is used to overcome the inertia of the boat. Once the inertia is overcome the boat will start to move. After a while, the speed of the boat reaches its maximum value and the applied force is used up in overcoming the friction of the water against the hull.

When the battery switch (S₁) in the LR circuit of figure Figure 18(A) is closed, the rate of the current increase is maximum in the inductive circuit. At this instant all the battery voltage is used in overcoming the emf of self-induction which is a maximum because the rate of change of current is maximum. Thus the battery voltage is equal to the drop across the inductor and the voltage across the resistor is zero. As time goes on more of the battery voltage appears across the resistor and less across the inductor. The rate of change of current is less and the induced emf is less. As the steady-state condition of the current is approached, the drop across the inductor approaches zero and all of the battery voltage is "dropped" across the resistance of the circuit.

Thus the voltages across the inductor and the resistor change in magnitude during the period of erowth of current the same way the force applied to the boat divides itself between the effects of inertia and friction. In both examples, the force is developed first across the inertia/inductive effect and finally across the friction/resistive effect.

Figure 18(C) shows that when switch S, is closed (source voltage Es removed from the circuit), the flux that has been established around the inductor (L) collapses through the windings. This induces a voltage e, in the inductor that has a polarity opposite to E_s and is essentially equal to Es in magnitude. The induced voltage causes decay current (i_d) to flow in resistor R in the same direction in which current was flowing originally (when S₁ was closed). A voltage (e_R) that is initially equal to source voltage (E_s) is developed across R. The voltage across the resistor (e_R) rapidly falls to zero as the voltage across the inductor (e_L) falls to zero due to the collapsing flux.

Just as the example of the boat was used to explain the growth of current in a circuit, it can also be used to explain the decay of current in a circuit. When the force applied to the boat is removed, the boat still continues to move through the water for a while, eventually coming to a stop. This is because energy was being stored in the inertia of the moving boat. After a period of time the friction of the water overcomes the inertia of the boat, and the boat stops moving. Just as inertia of the boat stored energy, the magnetic field of an inductor stores energy. Because of this, even when the power source is removed, the stored energy of the magnetic field of the inductor tends to keep current flowing in the circuit until the magnetic field collapse.

Since an inductor (coil) consists of a number of turns of wire, and since all wire has some resistance, every inductor has a 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 (I²R).

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.

All these losses dissipate power in the form of heat. Since this power cannot be returned to the electrical circuit, it is lost power.

Whenever two coils are located so that the flux from one coil links with the turns of the other coil, a change of flux in one coil causes an emf to be induced in the other coil. This allows the energy from one coil to be transferred or coupled to the other coil. The two coils are said to be coupled or linked by the property of MUTUAL INDUCTANCE (M). The amount of mutual inductance depends on the relative positions of the two coils. This is shown in Figure 20, Figure 21, and Figure 22. If the coils are separated a considerable distance, the amount of flux common to both coils is small and the mutual inductance is low. Conversely, if the coils are close together so that nearly all the flux of one coil links the turns of the other, the mutual inductance is high. The mutual inductance can be increased greatly by mounting the coils on a common iron core.

Two coils are placed close together as shown in Figure 23 and in Figure 24. Coil 1 is connected to a battery through switch S, and coil 2 is connected to an ammeter (A). When switch S is closed as in Figure 23, the current that flows in coil 1 sets up a magnetic field that links with coil 2, causing an induced voltage in coil 2 and a momentary deflection of the ammeter. When the current in coil 1 reaches a steady value, the ammeter returns to zero. If switch S is now opened as in Figure 24, the ammeter (A) deflects momentarily in the opposite direction, indicating a momentary flow of current in the opposite direction in coil 2. This current in coil 2 is produced by the collapsing magnetic field of coil 1.

The mutual inductance of two adjacent coils is dependent upon the physical dimensions of the two coils, the number of turns in each coil, the distance between the two coils, the relative positions of the axes of the two coils, and the permeability of the cores.

The COEFFICIENT OF COUPLING between two coils is equal to the ratio of the flux cutting one coil to the flux originated in the other coil. If the two coils are so positioned with respect to each other so that all of the flux of one coil cuts all of the turns of the other, the coils are said to have a unity coefficient of coupling. It is never exactly equal to unity (1), but it approaches this value in certain types of coupling devices. If all of the flux produced by one coil cuts only half the turns of the other coil, the coefficient of coupling is 0.5. The coefficient of coupling is designated by the letter K.

The mutual inductance between two coils, L₁ and L₂, is expressed in terms of the inductance of each coil and the coefficient of coupling K. As a formula:

Example problem:

One 10-H coil and one 20-H coil are connected in series and are physically close enough to each other so that their coefficient of coupling is 0.5. What is the mutual inductance between the coils?

O14. What is meant by the coefficient of coupling?

When inductors are well shielded or are located far enough apart from one another, the effect of mutual inductance is negligible. If there is no mutual inductance (magnetic coupling) and the inductors are connected in series, the total inductance is equal to the sum of the individual inductances. As a formula:

L_T = L₁ + L₂ + L₃ + …​ L_n

where L_T is the total inductance; L₁, L₂, L₃ are the inductances of L₁, L₂, L₃ and L_n, means that any number (n) of inductors may be used. The inductances of inductors in series are added together like the resistances of resistors in series.

When two inductors in series are so arranged that the field of one links the other, the combined inductance is determined as follows:

The plus sign is used with M when the magnetic fields of the two inductors are aiding each other, as shown in Figure 25. The minus sign is used with M when the magnetic field of the two inductors oppose each other, as shown in Figure 26. The factor 2M accounts for the influence of L₁ on L₂ and L₂ on L₁.

Example problem:

A 10-H coil is connected in series with a 5-H coil so the fields aid each other. Their mutual inductance is 7 H. What is the combined inductance of the coils?

The total inductance (Ly) of inductors in parallel is calculated in the same manner that the total resistance of resistors in parallel is calculated, provided the coefficient of coupling between the coils is zero. Expressed mathematically:

An electric current through a conductor will produce a magnetic field at right angles to the direction of electron flow. If that conductor is wrapped into a coil shape, the magnetic field produced will be oriented along the length of the coil. The greater the current, the greater the strength of the magnetic field, all other factors being equal:

Inductors react against changes in current because of the energy stored in this magnetic field. When we construct a transformer from two inductor coils around a common iron core, we use this field to transfer energy from one coil to the other. However, there are simpler and more direct uses for electromagnetic fields than the applications we’ve seen with inductors and transformers. The magnetic field produced by a coil of current-carrying wire can be used to exert a mechanical force on any magnetic object, just as we can use a permanent magnet to attract magnetic objects, except that this magnet (formed by the coil) can be turned on or off by switching the current on or off through the coil.

If we place a magnetic object near such a coil for the purpose of making that object move when we energize the coil with electric current, we have what is called a solenoid. The movable magnetic object is called an armature, and most armatures can be moved with either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) energizing the coil. The polarity of the magnetic field is irrelevant for the purpose of attracting an iron armature. Solenoids can be used to electrically open door latches, open or shut valves, move robotic limbs, and even actuate electric switch mechanisms. However, if a solenoid is used to actuate a set of switch contacts, we have a device so useful it deserves its own name: the relay.

Relays are extremely useful when we have a need to control a large amount of current and/or voltage with a small electrical signal. The relay coil which produces the magnetic field may only consume fractions of a watt of power, while the contacts closed or opened by that magnetic field may be able to conduct hundreds of times that amount of power to a load. In effect, a relay acts as a binary (on or off) amplifier.

Just as with transistors, the relay’s ability to control one electrical signal with another finds application in the construction of logic functions. This topic will be covered in greater detail in another lesson. For now, the relay’s "amplifying" ability will be explored.

In the above schematic, the relay’s coil is energized by the low-voltage (12 VDC) source, while the single-pole, single-throw (SPST) contact interrupts the high-voltage (480 VAC) circuit. It is quite likely that the current required to energize the relay coil will be hundreds of times less than the current rating of the contact. Typical relay coil currents are well below 1 amp, while typical contact ratings for industrial relays are at least 10 amps.

One relay coil/armature assembly may be used to actuate more than one set of contacts. Those contacts may be normally-open, normally-closed, or any combination of the two. As with switches, the "normal" state of a relay’s contacts is that state when the coil is de-energized, just as you would find the relay sitting on a shelf, not connected to any circuit.

Relay contacts may be open-air pads of metal alloy, mercury tubes, or even magnetic reeds, just as with other types of switches. The choice of contacts in a relay depends on the same factors which dictate contact choice in other types of switches. Open-air contacts are the best for high-current applications, but their tendency to corrode and spark may cause problems in some industrial environments. Mercury and reed contacts are sparkless and won’t corrode, but they tend to be limited in current-carrying capacity.

Shown here are three small relays (about two inches in height, each), installed on a panel as part of an electrical control system at a municipal water treatment plant:

The relay units shown here are called "octal-base," because they plug into matching sockets, the electrical connections secured via eight metal pins on the relay bottom. The screw terminal connections you see in the photograph where wires connect to the relays are actually part of the socket assembly, into which each relay is plugged. This type of construction facilitates easy removal and replacement of the relay(s) in the event of failure.

Aside from the ability to allow a relatively small electric signal to switch a relatively large electric signal, relays also offer electrical isolation between coil and contact circuits. This means that the coil circuit and contact circuit(s) are electrically insulated from one another. One circuit may be DC and the other AC (such as in the example circuit shown earlier), and/or they may be at completely different voltage levels, across the connections or from connections to ground.

While relays are essentially binary devices, either being completely on or completely off, there are operating conditions where their state may be indeterminate, just as with semiconductor logic gates. In order for a relay to positively "pull in" the armature to actuate the contact(s), there must be a certain minimum amount of current through the coil. This minimum amount is called the pull-in current, and it is analogous to the minimum input voltage that a logic gate requires to guarantee a "high" state (typically 2 Volts for TTL, 3.5 Volts for CMOS). Once the armature is pulled closer to the coil’s center, however, it takes less magnetic field flux (less coil current) to hold it there. Therefore, the coil current must drop below a value significantly lower than the pull-in current before the armature "drops out" to its spring-loaded position and the contacts resume their normal state. This current level is called the drop-out current, and it is analogous to the maximum input voltage that a logic gate input will allow to guarantee a "low" state (typically 0.8 Volts for TTL, 1.5 Volts for CMOS).

The hysteresis, or difference between pull-in and drop-out currents, results in operation that is similar to a Schmitt trigger logic gate. Pull-in and drop-out currents (and voltages) vary widely from relay to relay, and are specified by the manufacturer.