Tesla bifilar coil - QuickField simulation example
Tesla flat bifilar coil is an electromagnetic coil that contains two closely spaced, parallel windings.
How to find inductance of bifilar windings?
Engineering answer Typical applications Geometry
Given
Task
1. Same (parallel) direction;
2. Opposite directions.
Solution
The magnetic field energy of the coil is associated with coil inductance by the formula:
From this formula it follows that the inductance is directly proportional to the stored energy of the magnetic field.
Results
Magnetic field lines, distribution of current density and the stored energy of the magnetic field for the case of reverse windings connection:
Engineering question
Set up an axisymmetric QuickField AC Magnetics problem for a bifilar coil winding system and evaluate inductance from computed field results.
precision inductors, bifilar windings, sensor coil windings
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Simulation problem
Problem Type
Axisymmetric problem of AC magnetics.
Schematic image of the Tesla's flat inductive bifilar coil
Number of turns = 48;
Outer diameter of coil = 154 mm;
Wire diameter = 3 mm.
Electric current I = 1 A;
Frequency f = 400 Hz.
Estimate the change in inductance between two cases of electric current direction:
Tesla bifilar coil can be modeled as concentric closed circles.
In this formulation, the problem can be solved as a plane axisymmetric 2D problem of the magnetic field of alternating currents.
W = (L*I²)/2
Magnetic field energy for the case of current flowing in:
Parallel direction: W = 10.7 uJ.
Reverse direction Wreverse = 0.23 uJ.
In the case of reverse connection the coil features low energy (and inductance), which is only 2% of the inductance value in case of parallel current direction.
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