Analysis Of Core Hysteresis Loss Underscores Transformer Efficiency Challenges
by Gregory Mirsky, Design Engineer, Deer Park, Ill., How2Power Today, Feb 15 2023
Focus:
Some power converters boast efficiencies above 99%. This article makes the case that such
high performance is not easily achieved, particularly when transformer loss due to core
hysteresis alone can defeat this goal. The article analyzes how the hysteresis loss
affects the magnetic core loss, and what core material properties influence the hysteresis
loss. The article reviews how to build a hysteresis loop using conventional magnetic core
parameters such as Bsat, µr and Br for a real core as a means to better understand the
core material. Then, the analysis is extended to determine the efficiency and power loss
for this core as a function of hysteresis loss, given a selected core volume and operating
frequency.
What you’ll learn:
- How to understand the difficulty of achieving extremely high efficiency (>99%) in power converters given the limitations of power magnetics
- How to determine the power loss and efficiency of a transformer due to hysteresis loss given a specific core and operating frequency
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