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Has anyone considered the iron core of a transformer to act as a transmission line or waveguide, where it conveys energy from primary to secondary? The core seems to resemble a "magnetic version" of the single wire Goubau line.
Thank you for your comments. I had forgotten that the Goubau line was first described with a dielectric coating. For propagation by waveguide modes, I think we can see a longitudinal field component, so B or E may not be perpendicular to the direction of propagation.jambaugh said:Skimming the Goubau line article I note that there is a dielectric coating and the UHF signal is transmitting via surface waves. This does not fit analogously with the transformer core which is being longitudinally polarized. Also you are not getting the propagation down the length of the iron core. Keep in mind that E-M waves propagate transverse to their E and M fields. While the various modes of a wave guide will correspond to different E vs B field directions (as in radial vs circumfrerential or x vs y ) they still invariably align perpendicular to the propagating waves. With the iron core the B field is along the length so one is rather getting "near field effects" with respect to the transmission of power along the core length.
?? what if primary and secondary are a bifilar arrangement instead of two coils separated as on a bobbin wound ?tech99 said:when a pulse is applied to the primary, I feel that a wave must propagate along the core to the secondary - it cannot be instantaneous.
It seems that in the case of two coils spaced by air, we are linking the two transducers together via "free space", so we do not have waveguide propagation. The iron core enables the coils to exchange energy when spaced apart, by acting as a waveguide.jim hardy said:?? what if primary and secondary are a bifilar arrangement instead of two coils separated as on a bobbin wound ?
Then it'd work without an iron core.http://amasci.com/tesla/tmistk.html
A transformer core is a component of a transformer that is responsible for transferring energy from one circuit to another through electromagnetic induction. It is typically made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron or steel.
A transformer core is designed to guide and direct electromagnetic waves through its core. As the magnetic field created by the input current passes through the core, it induces a current in the secondary winding, allowing for the transfer of energy.
Using a transformer core as a waveguide allows for efficient energy transfer due to the high permeability of the core material. It also eliminates the need for physical connections between the primary and secondary circuits, reducing the risk of electrical hazards.
One limitation of using a transformer core as a waveguide is that it is only effective for low-frequency signals. At high frequencies, the core material can become saturated, reducing its ability to guide electromagnetic waves.
No, not all transformers use a core as a waveguide. Some transformers, such as air-core transformers, do not have a core and instead rely on the proximity of the primary and secondary windings to transfer energy through electromagnetic induction.