Wrestling Saturation

[Randy]

I am unclear as to what actually occurs when a core saturates and what the
result is. I understand there are many factors affecting inductance:
length, # of turns, core permeability, magnitude and frequency of current
but, when flux density reaches the point of saturation, does this null or
cancel the effect of the inductor or, does this mean that the inductance
has been exceeded? How does this affect the circuit?

An Inquiring Mind
Randy Gross

 

[John Popelish]

Randy wrote:

I am unclear as to what actually occurs when a core saturates and what the
result is. I understand there are many factors affecting inductance:
length, # of turns, core permeability, magnitude and frequency of current
but, when flux density reaches the point of saturation, does this null or
cancel the effect of the inductor or, does this mean that the inductance
has been exceeded? How does this affect the circuit?

An Inquiring Mind
Randy Gross

Inductance is, indirectly, a measure of the total flux that passes
through the area of the coil per ampere. This is proportional to the
permeability of the flux path, and is inverse to the length of the
flux path. When the core saturates, its permeability heads toward
that of free space. So the inductance of the coil transitions
smoothly from that of an iron core inductance to that of an air core
inductance with the same coil arrangement. An iron core provides a
high permeability, well confined flux path, while an air core
inductance has a low permeability, spread out in space flux path.

--
John Popelish

 

[Randy]

John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote in article
<3F26877D.AE14B425@rica.net>...
: Randy wrote:
: >
: > I am unclear as to what actually occurs when a core saturates and what
the
: > result is. I understand there are many factors affecting inductance:
: > length, # of turns, core permeability, magnitude and frequency of
current
: > but, when flux density reaches the point of saturation, does this null
or
: > cancel the effect of the inductor or, does this mean that the
inductance
: > has been exceeded? How does this affect the circuit?
: >
: > An Inquiring Mind
: > Randy Gross
:
: Inductance is, indirectly, a measure of the total flux that passes
: through the area of the coil per ampere. This is proportional to the
: permeability of the flux path, and is inverse to the length of the
: flux path. When the core saturates, its permeability heads toward
: that of free space. So the inductance of the coil transitions
: smoothly from that of an iron core inductance to that of an air core
: inductance with the same coil arrangement. An iron core provides a
: high permeability, well confined flux path, while an air core
: inductance has a low permeability, spread out in space flux path.
:
: --
: John Popelish
:
Thanks for the light!

Randy Gross