In the last chat, Magnetics Design Chat: Part 1, Optimal Design of Magnetics Components, our goal was to maximize transfer-power density in a magnetic component so that for a given maximum power, the component is as small as possible. The basic formula for transfer of power through a magnetic core was expressed by the simple relationship:

The two basic limitations on cores are:

This basic conclusion is so important, it bears repeating in another way:

Optimal Turns
The magnetic (core) and electric (winding) designs are connected through the choice of number of turns, N of winding, a central magnetic design parameter. Maximum core transfer-power density, or core utilization , determines turns limits. The turns minimum is Nλ :

Δφ (p̄c ) = ΔB(p̄c )A , where A is the core magnetic path cross-sectional area. Both A and magnetic path length, l , are given in core catalogs along with core magnetic volume, V . The maximum turns is limited by saturation:

The current referred to or “seen” by the core field is Nī = Nâ‹…ī , where iĚ„ is the average current; Nī = H̄â‹…l . It sets the magnetic op-pt and the extent of saturation through ksat .
- Maximum turns that fit winding window, Nw , is another turns limitation → allowable current density
The range of N is bounded by power-loss and saturation limits, and maximum window turns:

With adequate window area for turns, the design range of N is bracketed by core power-loss (Nλ ) and saturation (Ni ). The core is fully utilized when Nλ = Ni :

where circuit flux, Δλ = Vp ⋅ton , Ip = average (primary) winding on-time current amplitude and Vp = average (primary) winding on-time voltage amplitude. The condition for Nopt is

Solve for the primary-winding on-time power amplitude for the circuit,

where Vp and Ip are the values during on-time, when the primary winding is driven. The on-time power relates to the average primary power, P̄p , by the duty-ratio, D , the fraction of the switching cycle that is the on-time: ton = Dâ‹…Ts = D /fs and 1/ton = fs /D . Substitute

and core volume,

Then

Then relating to on-time circuit power,

Average power transferred = on-time power, Pp , times the fraction of its duration, D , or

We have maximized P̄p by equating the turns limits: Nλ = Ni , where Nλ is the power-loss minimum N and Ni is the saturation-limited maximum N .
In the next chat, we will look at the circuit-design consequences of these new-found criteria for magnetics design.
0 comments on “Magnetics Design Chat: Part 2, Maximum Transfer Power Through Magnetics Components”