What Are the Effects of Self-Inductance and DC Excitation on Coils?

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    Coil Dc Emf Flux
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of self-inductance and DC excitation on coils, particularly focusing on how different types of current (AC vs. DC) influence the induced electromotive force (emf) in coils. Participants explore the implications of varying magnetic flux and the conditions under which emf is generated, including the role of switching the current on and off.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that when a coil is excited with AC, varying current leads to varying magnetic flux, which induces emf in the coil.
  • Others argue that with DC, the current initially increases but then remains constant, leading to a brief period of varying flux that may not be sufficient to induce emf.
  • One participant notes that emf is only induced in a DC circuit when the current is switched on or off, with the induced emf opposing the applied emf during these transitions.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the induced emf during the switch-off phase can be significant enough to cause sparking at switch contacts.
  • Some participants discuss the role of coil turns and core materials in enhancing magnetic effects and the resulting emf.
  • There is mention of Lenz's law in relation to the induced emf opposing changes in current, particularly during the switching phases.
  • One participant expresses a need for clarification regarding the conditions under which emf is induced in DC circuits, suggesting that their previous wording may have been misunderstood.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the behavior of emf in coils differs between AC and DC excitation, particularly in terms of how and when emf is induced. However, there are competing views on the sufficiency of varying flux in DC scenarios and the implications of Lenz's law, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the conditions for inducing emf in DC circuits depend on assumptions about the nature of current flow and the characteristics of the coil, which are not fully resolved in the discussion.

skylines
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Hi,

When coil is excited with ac because of varying nature of current ,flux of varying nature will be developed in coil and because of varying flux emf will induce in coil.

what will happen if coil is excited with dc? intially cureent will increase from zero to maximum and is constant.Because of this varying flux will develop for very short period of time .Does this flux is sufficient to induce emf in coil ?

Thanks
 
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skylines said:
Hi,

When coil is excited with ac because of varying nature of current ,flux of varying nature will be developed in coil and because of varying flux emf will induce in coil.

This is but the question related to electromagnetism.

Ok , anyways I think you are talking about a single coil firstly connected to mains. Yes there will be varying magnetic flux created in the coil. Ewing postulated his statement that every molecule and every electron behaves as a dipole or a free magnet. Current will be AC if either its intensity keep on changing or its direction or both in the coil. So flux of varying nature will be developed in coil but total magnetic intensity will be very less.

what will happen if coil is excited with dc? intially cureent will increase from zero to maximum and is constant.Because of this varying flux will develop for very short period of time .

Thanks

Please imagine this situation yourself. Have you conducted any experiments on electronics ?
If you connect a circuit to the battery connected to an ammeter then instantaneously within no time ammeter will give you its reading of current in amperes in the circuit. Current is not increasing from 0 to x amperes ! As soon as you connect the circuit to battery ammeter will give you the current reading. So after all unless you don't do any change in current intensity or resistance or change battery (etc), current will be constant in a circuit. In other words current intensity will remain constant. You must also realize there is also net flow of current in one particular direction. This means its direction is not changing with time.

Hence the current will be DC. There will be no varying flux. There will be same magnetic flux induced in coil in which direct current is flowing.

Does this flux is sufficient to induce emf in coil ?

In DC the potential difference between two electrodes in open circuit is emf. If current intensity is high , the turns in coil are more , soft pure iron core is placed between coil , or laminating iron core will help to create stronger magnetic flux.

Note : If DC current is flowing in a circuit then flux is not inducing emf in a circuit.
 
AC flowing in the coil will produce an AC magnetic flux which will produce an AC emf. This is called a BACK EMF.
When the coil is connected to DC you are correct to realize that an emf will only be induced when the current is switched ON or OFF. At switch ON the induced emf opposes the applied emf and this results in a slowing of the rise in the current. This is especially notable in a coil with many turns and an iron core (to make the magnetic effect large)
At switch off the current stops instantaneously and this rapid collapse of the magnetic field can produce a large emf. This emf can be large enough to cause a spark at the switch contacts. In practice this is a problem in relay coils and it is put to use to generate high voltages in Induction coils.
 
technician said:
AC flowing in the coil will produce an AC magnetic flux which will produce an AC emf. This is called a BACK EMF.

Correct , current (AC) induced in coil by the process of electromagnetic induction will either have directions changing or intensity changing or both changing in the respective coil. So it will produce an AC magnet flux which will produce an AC emf.

When the coil is connected to DC you are correct to realize that an emf will only be induced when the current is switched ON or OFF.

Yes I am. :smile:
That's what I typed in my previous post.

At switch ON the induced emf opposes the applied emf and this results in a slowing of the rise in the current. This is especially notable in a coil with many turns and an iron core (to make the magnetic effect large)

Incorrect ; technician , unless you have the constant magnetic flux due to the flow of direct current , no electromotive force is induced by that DC magnetic flux.
There will be the emf which is applied at the electrodes in battery in an open circuit when current does no external work.

actuators_solonoid_magnetic_field.gif


Look at the leftmost face of coil. Instead of clock rule , use Lenz's law. Imagine you are moving bar magnet in of solenoid. According to Lenz's law , the polarity of the left most face of coil opposes the motion of bar magnet. So polarity of leftmost face of coil is North pole. Magnetic flux will be from N.P. to S.P. of bar magnet with high intensity.
Similarly if you move bar magnet out of solenoid the polarity of the left most face of coil opposes the motion of bar magnet. So polarity of leftmost face of coil is North pole. Magnetic flux will be from N.P. to S.P. of bar magnet with little low intensity.

But in DC magnetic intensity is same so only emf is at end terminals of battery.
At switch off the current stops instantaneously and this rapid collapse of the magnetic field can produce a large emf. This emf can be large enough to cause a spark at the switch contacts. In practice this is a problem in relay coils and it is put to use to generate high voltages in Induction coils.

Correct but vague partially. I think you are talking about self induction. Yes if current is switched on sometimes due to self induction the direction of induced current is same as primary current.

If you open the circuit there will be spark and current will decrease. So the induced current will oppose the primary current due to change in magnetic flux which reverses the direction of induced current in a circuit. Hence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current" are developed.

In AC :
reactance.gif


IN DC :

self-induction.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think that my wording has been misunderstood!
At switch On the current begins to increase in the coil, This increasing current produces an increasing magnetic flux in the coil which, (because it is changing) will produce an induced emf. This induced emf will oppose the change producing it (Lenz's law)... that is it will oppose the Increasing current. If the coil has lots of turns and has an iron core to increase magnetic effects this slowing in the rise of the current is easy to demonstrate...I have done it many times.
Your last diagram Sankalpmittal shows this perfectly your e is opposing the increasing current
When the current is switched off the magnetic field collapses rapidly giving an induced emf that tries to maintain the current. A large emf (can be 1000V) is developed across the terminals of the coil.This is easy to demonstrate and particularly if the demonstrator
is touching the terminals of the coil... you get an electric shock.
I hope this clears up any confusion in my previous wording
 
thanks now i am more clear abt emf.
 
technician said:
I think that my wording has been misunderstood!
At switch On the current begins to increase in the coil, This increasing current produces an increasing magnetic flux in the coil which, (because it is changing) will produce an induced emf. This induced emf will oppose the change producing it (Lenz's law)... that is it will oppose the Increasing current. If the coil has lots of turns and has an iron core to increase magnetic effects this slowing in the rise of the current is easy to demonstrate...I have done it many times.
Your last diagram Sankalpmittal shows this perfectly your e is opposing the increasing current
When the current is switched off the magnetic field collapses rapidly giving an induced emf that tries to maintain the current. A large emf (can be 1000V) is developed across the terminals of the coil.This is easy to demonstrate and particularly if the demonstrator
is touching the terminals of the coil... you get an electric shock.
I hope this clears up any confusion in my previous wording

Woops sorry for the typo ! :redface:

sankalpmittal said:
I think you are talking about self induction. Yes if current is switched on sometimes due to self induction the direction of induced current is same as primary current.

If you open the circuit there will be spark and current will decrease. So the induced current will oppose the primary current due to change in magnetic flux which reverses the direction of induced current in a circuit. Hence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current" are developed.

Quoting myself. The bold text of my post is wrong !

Here is the correct one :

I think you are talking about self induction. Yes if current is switched on sometimes due to self induction the direction of induced current is opposite to primary current.Hence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current" are developed.

If you open the circuit there will be spark and current will decrease. Thus magnetic flux will collapse. This will develop an emf and hence the induced current will flow in the same direction as the primary current due to change in magnetic flux which reverses the direction of induced current in a circuit.

I think this clarifies my confusion. Thanks !

skylines said:
thanks now i am more clear abt emf.

I am very glad to hear that ! :smile:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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