Magnetic Components

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Summary: Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPSs) are the prevalent means for power conversion in electronic equipment. Trends towards lower costs, smaller sizes, and demands for higher efficiency, mean the accurate measurement of the SMPS’ magnetic components performance under DC bias conditions is critical. These components exhibit losses as energy passing through the magnetic core is lost as heat or noise. Existing techniques (calorimetric, field-based and circuit-based) suffer from measurement errors that are difficult to minimise, so that accurate measurement of core losses is elusive.   The Solution: Researchers at The University of Auckland have discovered magneto-mechanical phenomena linked to the rate of core losses during the magnetic excitation cycle, and have developed a new technique to measure core losses in the magnetic components of SMPSs. This technique is more accurate, simpler and less expensive than existing solutions. The method also includes an accurate prediction model for existing magnetic modelling software, aiding the design of new components.