How To Choose Magnetic Core Size

Focus:

One of the basic decisions in the design of magnetic devices is how large of a core should be chosen for a given design. It would seem that such a basic question would have some well-established theoretical answers by now. The actual situation is not so simple, though in this article, a rationale is presented that hopefully can simplify this important part of the design. As the author explains, the problem of sizing the core revolves around the issue of how to relate a maximum design temperature to core power-loss density. An experienced magnetics designer has an intuition for core size, but that is hardly a basis for a design procedure. The author’s analysis leads to a pair of equations and a simple procedure for selecting a core size from among the various catalog options.

What you’ll learn:

• How to analytically determine the size of a core required for a transformer or coupled inductor in a power converter design

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Author & Publication:

Dennis Feucht, Innovatia Laboratories, Cayo, Belize, How2Power Today, May 15 2013

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