What
is an Inductor
?
A wire of finite length when twisted into a coil makes
simplest inductor.
Lets see how inductor works ? As soon as a current I flows through a coil, an electromagnetic field is formed. Thus a magnetic flux Φ is created.
However, with any change in direction or magnitude of current the magnetic flux changes to induce an emf e in the coil. This phenomenon is called self-induction.
The emf induced is given by, e=-(dΦ/dt)=-L(dI/dt)
Now,
(1) If current remains constant i.e dI/dt
is zero , the voltage induced across the inductor will be zero ,showing that an
inductor behaves as a short circuit in steady state when conncted to a dc source.
(2) If current tries to change abruptly i.e dI/dt tending to infinity , a
emf of infinite magnitude will be induced across the inductor, but, infinite
magnitude voltage is physically not possible, showing that current
cannot change abruptly in an inductor.
An inductor thus behaves as an open-circuit just after
switching across a dc voltage.
(3) No matter how good conductor you use to make an
inductor, it will always have some resistance. So, practical inductors will dissipate
energy on account of this resistance but ideally the resistance will be zero,
therefore, an ideal inductor does not dissipate energy but only stores it.
Power absorbed by the inductor is given by,
P = voltage across inductor × current through inductor
= eI= IL(dI/dt) watt
And energy absorbed is given by,
E=∫t0Pdt
= LI2 / 2
How does an Inductor work in AC circuit
Let a pure inductor (zero resistance) of inductance L be supplied by an ac
source Vs as shown.
Using inductor equation
e =-L(dI/dt) = Vs
simplifying and taking integration limits :-
dI=
(Vsdt/L)
take integration :-
take integration :-
∫I0dI= (1/L)∫t0 Vs dt
Solving integration :-
I = (1/L)∫t0
Vm sinwt dt
= - (Vm coswt/wL)
= {Vm
sin(wt-900)} / wL ∵ -coswt = sin(wt-900)
Comparing above equation with standard current
equation i.e
I = (V/R) = {Vm sin(wt-900)}
/ wL
We get,
(1) R=
wL , is the opposition offered to
flow of current and it is given a special name ,inductive reactance. Inductive
reactance is represented by XL
.
i.e XL =wL= 2 πfL
Its clear from inductive reactance formula that it depends on source
frequency f.
The inductive reactance plays the same role for inductors
as the resistance plays for resistors i.e to oppose the current flow.
(2) The voltage has phase wt while current has (wt-900).
i.e current flowing through the inductor lags the voltage across it by 900
Current and voltage waveforms would appear as shown.
Closely related concepts :-