Analytical Modeling of A Ferromagnetic Core Reactor

The objective of this paper is to introduce an analytical model for a ferromagnetic-core inductor with a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) approach. The magnetomotive force (MMF) and the reluctances of the inductor are functions of material characteristics and physical design of the device. The proposed model is validated by comparing the inductance of the single-phase reactor calculated using this model with the one obtained from the finite element method (FEM) for different types of Silicon Steel ferromagnetic sheets. Based on the same model, a closed-form solution for the reactance of the device is found in terms of the design parameters of the device for the linear region of the magnetization curve of the group of core materials. As an example of the application of the analytical model, with the help of the reactance expressions derived, an optimization procedure is formulated to minimize the volume of the device for a required value of the reactance. This results in creation of a tool for selection of cost-effective options in terms of the core material while satisfying the design constraints of the reactor.