Applied Electricity Chapter Five – Magnetic Circuits

CHAPTER FIVE
MAGNETIC CIRCUITS
5.1 Introduction
A magnetic circuit is a complete closed path that is followed by any group of lines of magnetic flux. It
consists of a structure composed for the most part of high permeability magnetic material. The presence
of high permeability material causes the magnetic flux to be confined to the paths defined by the
structure, much as currents are confined to the conductors of an electric circuit. Figure 5.1 is a simple
example of a magnetic circuit.
The core is assumed to be composed of magnetic material whose permeability is much greater than that
of the surrounding air. The core is of uniform cross-section and is excited by a winding having N turns
and carrying a current of I amperes. The winding develops a magnetic field in the core (Figure 5.1). The
magnetic field can be seen in terms of flux lines, which form closed loops interlinking with the winding.
Φ
A B
I
Iron
N turns
Air gap

D C
C Circuit
Figure 5.1: A simple Magnetic
Practically, all electric power machinery (e.g. transformers, generators, motors) depend upon the
magnetism produced by the magnetic circuits for their operation. The engineer uses an arrangement of
coils and ferromagnetic materials (iron, cobalt, nickel, and their alloys) to provide the magnetic fields
required to produce say, torque in a motor or voltage in a generator. Magnetic circuits resulting from
these arrangements are well defined and can usually be divided into homogenous sections of uniform
cross sectional area.
The concept of magnetic circuit offers a realistic method of calculating magnetic fields in ferromagnetic
materials used in these arrangements. This chapter considers the solution of magnetic circuits applying
techniques used in electrical circuit analysis.

5.2 Magnetomotive Force (MMF)

MMF is a source in a magnetic circuit that sets up the flux flowing around circuit. The flux producing
ability of the coil in Figure 5.1 or of a coil on any other magnetic circuit is proportional to the number
of turns N on the winding and the current I in the winding. The product 𝑁𝐼 is called the magnetomotive
force (mmf) and determines the amount of flux developed in the magnetic circuit.
𝑚𝑚𝑓 = 𝑁𝐼
Symbol: 𝐹
Unit: A or AT (Amperes or Ampere Turns)
In figure 5.1, the mmf creates the magnetic flux that passes in a closed loop through the iron and air. A
magnetic potential drop develops across each section or component of the magnetic circuits as the flux
passes through the circuit. The sum of these drops is equal to the mmf produced by the coil.
In figure 5.2, this mmf acts along the magnetic line of force whose length, 𝑙 = 2𝜋𝑟, 𝑟 = 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠

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C
N turns

Figure 5.2: A Magnetic Circuit

The mmf in a magnetic circuit is analogous to the emf in the electric circuit. Emf in an electric circuit is
responsible for the flow of current, but in magnetic circuit, mmf is responsible for the existence of flux
in the magnetic medium. In other words, it is convenient to think of mmf as the “magnetic pd” in a
magnetic circuit.

Example 5.1
Calculate the mmf produced by a coil of 2000 turns when it carries a current of 5 A.

Solution 5.1
𝑁 = 2000 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠; 𝐼 = 5 𝐴
𝐹 = 𝑁𝐼 = 2000 × 5 = 10000 𝐴

5.3 Magnetic Field Intensity

Each homogenous section of uniform cross-section is subjected to a magnetic field intensity, H. The
magnetic field intensity is the mmf per unit length of the magnetic circuit. This is given by,
𝐹 𝑁𝐼
𝐻= = , 𝑙 = mean length of the section or component in metres
𝑙 𝑙

Symbol: H
Unit: 𝐴/𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑇/𝑚
Thus, mmf, F = NI = Hl amperes.

The magnetic field intensity is also known as the magnetising force or the magnetic field strength.

5.4 Relation Between Magnetic Flux Density (B) and Magnetic Field Intensity (H)
5.4.1 B-H Curve of a Vacuum (or Free Space)
In a vacuum, the ratio of magnetic flux density to magnetising force is a constant. Thus the B-H curve
as shown in figure 5.3.
𝐵
= 𝜇𝑜 or 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑜 𝐻,
𝐻

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Where, 𝜇𝑜 = magnetic space constant or permeability of free space. [𝜇𝑜 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 𝐻/𝑚]
𝐵

𝐻
Figure 5.3: B-H curve of a vacuum
Note: For all practical purposes the permeability of air has much the same value as that of vacuum.

5.4.2 B-H Curve of Non-magnetic Materials

The B-H curves are almost identical to that of a vacuum: 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑜 𝐻
That is, for air, or any non-magnetic medium, the ratio B H  0 . Although all non-magnetic
materials, including air, exhibit slight magnetic properties, these can effectively be neglected.

5.4.3 B-H Curve of A Magnetic Material

The magnetic flux density, B at any point in a medium is related to the magnetic field intensity, H at
that point by the relationship
𝐵 = 𝜇𝐻, where 𝜇 = 𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟
Where 𝜇 = absolute permeability of the medium in H/m
𝜇𝑜 = absolute permeability of the medium in H/m
𝜇𝑟 = relative permeability of the medium (dimensionless or no unit)
𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚
That is, 𝜇𝑟 =
𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒
 r varies with the type of magnetic material and by definition,  r for a vacuum is 1.
Table 5.1 is an approximate range of values of relative permeability  r for some common magnetic
materials.
Table 5.1: Range of values of 𝝁𝒓 of some magnetic materials
Material Range of values of 𝝁𝒓
Cast iron 100 – 250
Mild steel 200 – 800
Mumetal 200 – 5000
Cast steel 300 – 900
Stalloy 500 – 6000
Silicon iron 1000 – 5000

From Table 5.1 the relative permeability, 𝜇𝑟 is not constant but varies with the flux density in the
material. For this reason, 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟 𝐻 is not used in practice to determine B or H in magnetic materials
when the other is known. The relation is usually expressed graphically by the B-H curves of the
materials. These are a plotting of measured values of flux density B, against magnetic field strength H.
For non-magnetic materials this is a straight line (Figure 5.3). Typical curves of four magnetic materials
are shown in Figure 5.4.

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Figure 5.4: B-H curves for four materials

The relative permeability of a ferromagnetic material is proportional to the slope of the B-H curve and
thus varies with the magnetic field strength.

Example 5.2
A coil of 5000 turns is wound uniformly over a bakelite insulator ring having a mean circumference of
10 𝑐𝑚 and a uniform cross-sectional area of 0.2 𝑐𝑚2.
If the current through the coil is 0.5 𝐴, calculate
(a) the mmf of the circuit
(b) the magnetic field intensity
(c) the flux density and
(d) the total flux

Solution 5.2
𝑁 = 5000 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠; 𝑙 = 10 𝑐𝑚 = 0.1𝑚; 𝐴 = 0.2 𝑐𝑚2 = 0.2 × 10−4 𝑚2 ; 𝐼 = 0.5 𝐴
(a) 𝑚𝑚𝑓, 𝐹 = 𝑁𝐼 = 5000 × 0.5 = 2500 𝐴𝑇

(b) Mean circumference, 𝑙 = 0.1 𝑚

𝑚𝑚𝑓,𝐹 2500
∴ 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝐻 = = = 25000 𝐴𝑇/𝑚
𝑙 0.1

(c) Flux density in the ring, 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑜 𝐻 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 25000

= 31.42 𝑚𝑇

(d) Total flux, ∅ = 𝐵𝐴 = 31.42 × 10−3 × 0.2 × 10−4

= 0.63 𝜇𝑊𝑏

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Example 5.3
A coil of 1000 turns and length 200 mm caries a current of 5 A. if the cross-sectional area of the magnetic
circuit perpendicular to the flux is 1 𝑐𝑚2 and the flux produced by the coil is 0.15 𝑚𝑊𝑏, calculate:
(i) the absolute permeability of the magnetic material
(ii) the relative permeability of the magnetic material

Solution 5.3
𝑁 = 1000 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠; 𝑙 = 200 𝑚𝑚 = 0.2 𝑚; 𝐼 = 5 𝐴; 𝐴 = 1 𝑐𝑚2 = 10−4 𝑚−2 ;
Φ = 0.15 𝑚𝑊𝑏 = 0.15 × 10−3 𝑊𝑏
Φ 0.15×10−3
(i) Flux density, 𝐵 = = = 1.5 𝑇
𝐴 10−4

𝑁𝐼 1000×5
Magnetic field intensity, 𝐻 = = = 25000 𝐴/𝑚
𝑙 0.2

𝐵 1.5
Absolute permeability, 𝜇 = = = 6 × 10−5 𝐻/𝑚
𝐻 25000

𝜇 6×10−5
(ii) Relative permeability, 𝜇𝑟 = = = 47.75
𝜇𝑜 4𝜋×10−7

5.5 Reluctance, S

Reluctance S (or RM) is the ‘magnetic resistance’ of a magnetic circuit to the presence of magnetic flux.
Comparing with an electric circuit,
𝐸𝑚𝑓
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 =
𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
In a similar manner, in a magnetic circuit, the magnetic flux can be defined as
𝑚𝑚𝑓
𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥 =
𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
∴ reluctance of a magnetic circuit, S is given by
𝑚𝑚𝑓 𝐹
𝑆= =
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥 ∅
Where 𝐹 = 𝑁𝐼 = 𝐻𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∅ = 𝐵𝐴
But 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟 𝐻
𝐻𝑙 𝑙
Thus 𝑆= =
𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟 𝐻𝐴 𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟 𝐴

Symbol: S
1
Unit: or 𝐻 −1 or 𝐴/𝑊𝑏
𝐻
The reluctance is directly proportional to the length of the magnetic path and inversely proportional to
the cross-sectional area of the specimen
Note: The reluctance of the air path (gap) is many times more than the reluctance of a magnetic material.

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5.6 Reluctance of a Composite Series Magnetic Circuits

I 𝑙𝐶

𝑙𝐴 𝑙𝐵
C B
A

Figure 5.5: Magnetic Circuit

If the magnetic circuit, in figure 5.5, consists of three types of the magnetic materials A, B and C with
𝑙𝐴 , 𝑙𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝐶 , their mean lengths, 𝐴𝐴 , 𝐴𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝐶 , their cross-sectional areas and 𝜇𝐴 , 𝜇𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜇𝐶 , their
permeabilities, then
𝑙𝐴
Reluctance of material A, 𝑆𝐴 =
𝜇𝐴 𝐴𝐴
𝑙𝐵
Reluctance of material B, 𝑆𝐵 =
𝜇𝐵 𝐴𝐵
𝑙𝐶
Reluctance of material C, 𝑆𝐶 =
𝜇𝐶 𝐴𝐶
Total reluctance of the entire magnetic circuit, 𝑆𝑇 , is given by
𝑆𝑇 = 𝑆𝐴 + 𝑆𝐵 + 𝑆𝐶
𝑙𝐴 𝑙𝐵 𝑙𝐶
= + +
𝜇𝐴 𝐴𝐴 𝜇𝐵 𝐴𝐵 𝜇𝐶 𝐴𝐶

𝑙 𝑙 𝑙
Total 𝑚𝑚𝑓 = 𝜙 × 𝑆 = 𝜙 [𝜇 𝐴𝐴 + 𝜇 𝐵𝐴 + 𝜇 𝐶𝐴 ]
𝐴 𝐴 𝐵 𝐵 𝐶 𝐶
Or Total ampere-turns required
= 𝐻𝐴 𝑙𝐴 + 𝐻𝐵 𝑙𝐵 + 𝐻𝐶 𝑙𝐶
= sum of ampere-turns required for individual parts of the magnetic circuit.
Note:
The reluctances of different materials carried by a single magnetic line of force add up to each other.
Compare that to the addition of resistances connected in series in an electric circuit.

5.6.1 Permeance
It is the reciprocal of reluctance. It is a measure of the ability of a material to permit the setting up of
flux.
1 𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟 𝐴
Λ= =
𝑆 𝑙

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5.6.2 Solution of Magnetic Circuits

In practice, either the mmf required to produce a given flux or the flux produced in a magnetic circuit
by a given mmf has to be determined.
This is usually solved by drawing the magnetic circuit as if it were an electric circuit, then certain laws
of electric circuits are then applied.

Solution of linear magnetic circuits

The reluctance of linear magnetic circuits is independent of the flux density (that is 𝜇𝑟 is constant). Thus
all the laws of electric circuits (Ohm’s, Kirchhoff’s, Thevenin, Superposition etc., can be applied.)

Solution of non-linear magnetic circuits

All the laws of electric circuits cannot be applied to solve such magnetic circuits. Rather, Kirchhoff’s
laws are applicable and when applied to magnetic circuits are stated as follows:
First Law: The total magnetic flux towards a junction is equal to the total magnetic flux away from that
junction.
Second Law: In any closed magnetic circuit, the algebraic sum of the product of magnetic field strength
and the length of each part of the circuit is equal to the resultant magnetomotive force.

Note:
A magnetisation curve such as that seen on page 65 has to be plotted in order to determine the flux
density and its corresponding magnetic field strength of that particular ferromagnetic material.

5.6.3 Comparison between Electrical and Magnetic Quantities

In comparison,
(a) Flux is similar to current
(b) mmf is similar to emf
𝒍 𝜌𝑙
(c) Reluctance, 𝑺 = is similar to resistance, 𝑅 = and
𝝁𝒐 𝝁𝒓 𝑨 𝐴
𝟏 1
(d) Permeance, 𝚲 = is similar to conductance, 𝐺 =
𝑺 𝑅

Table 5.2: Comparison between Magnetic and Electric Circuits

Electrical Circuit Magnetic Circuit
emf E (V) mmf F (A)
current I (A) flux  (Wb)
resistance R (Ω) reluctance S (H-1)
E mmf
I 
R S
l l
R S 
A 0 r A
1 1
𝐺= Λ=
𝑅 𝑆

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Example 5.4
A magnetic circuit consists of three parts in series each of uniform cross section. They are:
(a) a length of 80 𝑚𝑚 and cross-sectional area 50 𝑚𝑚2
(b) a length of 60 𝑚𝑚 and cross-sectional area 90 𝑚𝑚2 and
(c) an air gap of length 0.5 𝑚𝑚 and cross-sectional area 150 𝑚𝑚2
A coil of 4000 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 is wound on part (b) and the flux density in the air gap is 0.3 𝑇. Assuming
that all the flux passes through the given circuit and that the relative permeability of section (a) and
(b) is 𝜇𝑟 = 3000, estimate the coil current to produce such a flux density.

Solution 5.4

𝑆𝑎 𝑆𝑏 𝑆𝑐 (𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑔𝑎𝑝)
Φ

Figure 5.6: Analogous circuit for example 5.4

Flux in air gap = flux in circuit, Φ
Φ = 𝐵𝐴 = 0.3 × 150 × 10−6
= 45 × 10−6 𝑊𝑏
𝑙𝑎 80×10−3
𝑆𝑎 = = = 4.24 × 105 𝐴/𝑊𝑏
𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟𝑎 𝐴𝑎 4𝜋×3000×50×10−6
𝑙𝑏 60×10−3
𝑆𝑏 = = = 1.77 × 105 𝐴/𝑊𝑏
𝜇𝑜 𝜇𝑟𝑏 𝐴𝑏 4𝜋×3000×90×10−6
𝑙𝑐 0.5×10−3
𝑆𝑐 = = = 2.65 × 106 𝐴/𝑊𝑏
𝜇𝑜 𝑐 4𝜋×150×10−6
Total reluctance, 𝑆𝑇 = 𝑆𝑎 + 𝑆𝑏 + 𝑆𝑐 = 4.24 × 105 + 1.77 × 105 + 26.52 × 105
= 32.53 × 105 𝐴/𝑊𝑏
Thus 𝐹 = Φ𝑆𝑇 = 45 × 10−6 × 32.53 × 105
= 146.385 𝐴
But 𝐹 = 𝑁𝐼
𝐹 146.385
⟹𝐼= =
𝑁 4000
= 0.0366 𝐴 = 36.6 𝑚𝐴

Example 5.5
A cast-iron rod 0.75 𝑚 long is bent into a ring having 1 𝑚𝑚 air gap between the ends of the rod, the
area of the rod being 5 𝑐𝑚2. The rod is uniformly wound with 1000 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 of wire. Calculate the current
in the coil if the magnetic flux in the air gap is 0.3 mWb. Neglect the effects of magnetic leakage. Use
the 𝐵 − 𝐻 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 for cast-iron on page 65.

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Solution 5.5
𝑙𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 = 0.75 𝑚; 𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 10−3 𝑚; 𝐴 = 5 × 10−4 ; 𝑁 = 1000; Φ = 0.3 × 10−3
Φ 0.3×10−3
Flux density, 𝐵 = = = 0.6 𝑇
𝐴 5×10−4
From the 𝐵 − 𝐻 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 for the cast-iron, the flux density corresponds to a magnetic field intensity in the
iron of 𝐻𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 = 3000
Hence the mmf, 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 for the iron path is
𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 = 𝐻𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 = 3000 × 0.75 = 2250 𝐴
For the air gap
𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑟 10−3
𝑆𝑎𝑖𝑟 = = = 1.59 × 106 A
𝜇𝑜 𝐴 4𝜋×10−7 ×5×10−4
and the mmf, 𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑟 for the air gap is
𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑟 = Φ𝑆𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 0.3 × 10−3 × 1.59 × 106
= 477 A
The total mmf 𝐹required to produce flux Φ is
𝐹 = 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 + 𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 2250 + 477
= 2727 𝐴
Now 𝐹 = 𝑁𝐼
𝐹 2727
∴𝐼= = = 2.727 𝐴
𝑁 1000

5.7 Hysteresis and Hysteresis Loss

If a magnetic substance is magnetised in a strong magnetic field, it retains a considerable portion of
magnetism after the magnetic force has been withdrawn. The phenomenon of lagging of magnetisation
or induction flux density behind the magnetising force is known as magnetic hysteresis. Thus, hysteresis
is the ‘lagging’ effect of flux density B whenever there are changes in the magnetic field strength H.
When an initially unmagnetised ferromagnetic material is subjected to a varying magnetic field strength
H, the flux density B produced in the material varies as shown in Figure 5.7, the arrows indicating the
direction of the cycle. Figure 5.7 is known as a hysteresis loop.

Figure 5.7 Hysteresis loop

From Figure 5.7, distance OX indicates the residual flux density or remanence. It is an indication that
when the magnetising force is removed, it retains some of its magnetic field.
In order to reduce the flux density in the specimen to zero it is necessary to reverse the magnetic field
until its intensity is Y. OY indicates the coercive force.

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If the reverse magnetic field is increased beyond Y, the specimen will eventually become magnetically
saturated again but in the reverse direction (point Z in Figure 5.7).
If the magnetising force is increased again in the “forward” direction, the material finally becomes
saturated again (point P). Thus PP’ is the saturation flux density.

Hysteresis results in a dissipation of energy which appears as a heating of the magnetic material. The
energy loss associated with hysteresis is proportional to the area of the hysteresis loop.

The area of a hysteresis loop varies with the type of material. The area, and thus the energy loss, is much
greater for hard materials than for soft materials.

For AC-excited devices the hysteresis loop is repeated every cycle of alternating current. Thus a
hysteresis loop with a large area (as with hard steel) is often unsuitable since the energy loss would be
considerable. Silicon steel has a narrow hysteresis loop, and thus small hysteresis loss, and is suitable
for transformer cores and rotating machine armatures.

5.8 Problems

5.8.1 Magnetic Circuit Quantities

1. What is the flux density in a magnetic field of cross-sectional area 20 cm2 having a flux of 3 mWb?
[1.5 T]

2. Determine the total flux emerging from a magnetic pole face having dimensions 5 cm by 6 cm, if
the flux density is 0.9 T. [2.7 mWb]

3. The maximum working flux density of a lifting electromagnet is 1.9 T and the effective area of a
pole face is circular in cross-section. If the total magnetic flux produced is 611 mWb determine the
radius of the pole face. [32 cm]

4. Find the magnetic field strength and the magnetomotive force needed to produce a flux density of
0.33 T in an air-gap of length 15 mm. [(a) 262 600 AIm (b) 3939 A]
5. An air-gap between two pole pieces is 20 mm in length and the area of the flux path across the gap
is 5 cm2. If the flux required in the air-gap is 0.75 mWb find the mmf necessary.
[23 870 A]

6. Find the magnetic field strength applied to a magnetic circuit of mean length 50 cm when a coil of
400 turns is applied to it carrying a current of 1.2 A. [960 A/m]

7. A solenoid 20 cm long is wound with 500 turns of wire. Find the current required to establish a
magnetizing force of 2500 A/m inside the solenoid. [1 A]

8. A magnetic field strength of 5000 A/m is applied to a circular magnetic circuit of mean diameter
250 mm. If the coil has 500 turns find the current in the coil. [7.85 A]

9. Find the relative permeability of a piece of silicon iron if a flux density of 1.3 T is produced by a
magnetic field strength of 700 A/m. [1478]

10. Part of a magnetic circuit is made from steel of length 120 mm, cross-sectional area 15 cm2 and
relative permeability 800. Calculate (a) the reluctance and (b) the absolute permeability of the steel.
[(a) 79 580 /H (b) 1 mH/m]

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11. A steel ring of mean diameter 120 mm is uniformly wound with 1500 turns of wire. When a current
of 0.30 A is passed through the coil a flux density of 1.5 T is set up in the steel. Find the relative
permeability of the steel under these conditions. [1000]

12. A mild steel closed magnetic circuit has a mean length of 75 mm and a cross-sectional area of 320.2
mm2. A current of 0.40 A flows in a coil wound uniformly around the circuit and the flux produced
is 200 μWb. If the relative permeability of the steel at this value of current is 400 find (a) the
reluctance of the material and (b) the number of turns of the coil. [(a) 466 000/H (b) 233]

13. A uniform ring of cast steel has a cross-sectional area of 5 cm2 and a mean circumference of 15 cm.
Find the current required in a coil of 1200 turns wound on the ring to produce a flux of 0.8 mWb.
(Use the magnetization curve for cast steel shown on page 65.) [0.60 A]

14. (a) A uniform mild steel ring has a diameter of 50 mm and a cross-sectional area of 1 cm2. Determine
the mmf necessary to produce a flux of 50 μWb in the ring. (Use the B-H curve for mild steel shown
on page 65.)
(b) If a coil of 440 turns is wound uniformly around the ring in part (a) what current would be
required to produce the flux? [(a) 110 A (b) 0.25 A]

5.8.2 Composite Series Magnetic Circuits

15. A magnetic circuit of cross-sectional area 0.4 cm2 consists of one part 3 cm long, of material having
relative permeability 1200, and a second part 2 cm long of material having relative permeability 750.
With a 100 turn coil carrying 2 A, find the value of flux existing in the circuit.
[0.195 mWb]

16. (a) A cast steel ring has a cross-sectional area of 600 mm2 and a radius of 25 mm. Determine the
mmf necessary to establish a flux of 0.8 mWb in the ring. Use the B-H curve for cast steel shown on
page 65.
(b) If a radial air gap 1.5mm wide is cut in the ring of part (a) find the mmf now necessary to maintain
the same flux in the ring. [(a) 270 A (b) 1860 A]

17. For the magnetic circuit shown in Figure 5.7 find the current I in the coil needed to produce a flux
of 0.45 mWb in the air-gap. The silicon iron magnetic circuit has a uniform cross-sectional area of
3 cm2 and its magnetization curve is as shown on page 65.
[0.83 A]

FIGURE 5.7 Magnetic circuit diagram for Problem 17

18. A ring forming a magnetic circuit is made from two materials; one part is mild steel of mean length
25 cm and cross-sectional area 4 cm2, and the remainder is cast iron of mean length 20 cm and cross-

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Applied Electricity Chapter Five – Magnetic Circuits

sectional area 7.5 cm2. Use a tabular approach to determine the total mmf required to cause a flux of
0.30 mWb in the magnetic circuit. Find also the total reluctance of the circuit. Use the magnetization
curves shown on page 65. [550 A, 18.3 × 105/H]
19. Figure 5.8 shows the magnetic circuit of a relay. When each of the air gaps are 1.5 mm wide find
the mmf required to produce a flux density of 0.75 T in the air gaps. Use the B-H curves shown on
page 65. [2970 A]

FIGURE 5.8 Magnetic circuit diagram for Problem 19

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