Sturdivant, Maurice
(2024)
Design Study Evaluating Impact of Gap Loss on Inductors with
Nanocrystalline Cores.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
As decarbonization efforts continue and electric vehicle (EV) technology matures, en-
gineers are challenged with developing compact and efficient power electronics. Magnetic
components, including inductors, are critical to the operation of power conversion systems.
To increase power density and efficiency, it is ideal to 1) reduce the size of magnetic com-
ponents, as they are often the largest contributors to the system’s physical footprint, and 2)
minimize component power losses. A common inductor design technique is placing an air gap
in the core, allowing designers to tune the inductance and allow higher levels of magnetic field
without saturation. The inclusion of gaps can increase the total magnetic core loss beyond
those predicted by common models such as the Steinmetz equation, creating the need for
accurate gap loss models. In this study, finite-element simulation and physical experiments
are used to validate assumptions about the sources of gap loss and its dependence on gap
length. A sample nanocrystalline inductor is tested over a range of gap lengths under fixed
operating conditions, with core losses measured and compared to a selected gap loss model.
The model was then integrated into a multi-objective optimization framework to study the
fitness of nanocrystalline cores against ferrite cores at different switching frequencies. This
work finds that gap losses can increase the total loss of nanocrystalline inductors by up to
an order of magnitude as frequency increases, implying that consideration of gap losses is
vital to selecting the appropriate core material for design applications.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
6 September 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
21 May 2024 |
| Approval Date: |
6 September 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
5 June 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
60 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
core loss, inductors, air gaps, nanocrystalline, loss measurement, optimization |
| Date Deposited: |
06 Sep 2024 19:55 |
| Last Modified: |
06 Sep 2024 19:55 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46478 |
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