
Air Core Inductor Calculator
This calculator is designed to calculate the inductance of an air-core inductor.
This calculator is designed to calculate the inductance of an air-core inductor. Air-core inductors are inductors created without the use of any ferromagnetic material between the coil or windings. They are commonly used in high frequency circuits, radio frequency (RF) applications and antennas.
When using the online air core inductor calculator, you can calculate by entering: coil diameter, coil length and number of turns.
Inductance = \frac{{(d^2) \cdot (n^2)}}{{18d + 40l}}
where,
- d = Coil Diameter,
- l = Coil Length,
- n = Number of turns.
Table of contents:
How to Calculate Air Core Inductor?
Air-core inductors are inductors created without using any ferromagnetic material between the coil or windings. You can follow the steps below to calculate these inductors:
- Determine the Coil Geometry: The first step is to determine the geometry of the air-core inductor. These include the coil diameter (D) and coil length (L).
- Using the Inductance Formula: The inductance of air-core inductors depends on factors such as coil geometry and number of windings. The commonly used formula is as above.
- Evaluating the Results: By examining the calculated value, you can determine the inductance of the air-core inductor. This value affects the behavior and performance of the inductor in an electrical circuit.
By following these steps, you can calculate the inductance of a specific air-core inductor and use the inductor in an electrical circuit. This calculation is especially important since it is a type of inductor commonly used in high-frequency and RF circuits.
What is an Air Core Inductor?
An air-core inductor is a type of inductor made without the use of any ferromagnetic material between the coil or windings. It is often used in high frequency circuits and RF (Radio Frequency) applications. Air-core inductors can have a hollow or tubular structure.
Since such inductors have no core material, their inductance depends only on the coil geometry and the number of windings. Air-core inductors are used to provide low loss and stable inductance values. They also offer low resistance and low parasitic effects at high frequencies.
Air-core inductors are widely used in RF and communication systems such as antenna circuits, frequency filters, oscillators, RF receivers and transmitters. They are also used in audio equipment, power supplies and industrial electronics.
Working Principle of Air Core Inductor
Air-core inductors are created without the use of any ferromagnetic material between the coil or windings. Therefore, the principle of operation is based on the basic inductor principles, where the inductance depends only on the coil geometry and the number of windings.
In air-core inductors, as the electric current circulates through the coil, it generates a magnetic field. This magnetic field varies depending on the number of windings in the coil and the coil geometry. With the creation of the magnetic field, an induced voltage appears in the coil. This voltage is based on Faraday’s law of induction, the basic principle of inductance.
The fact that air-core inductors do not contain a ferromagnetic core prevents the magnetic field from being absorbed by the core material. This allows the inductor to exhibit a more linear behavior and less loss at high frequencies.
As a result, the operating principle of air-core inductors is based on the generation of inductance, where the magnetic field is determined only by the coil geometry and the number of windings. These characteristics increase its usability in high-frequency and RF applications and provide a stable inductance.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Core Inductors
The advantages and disadvantages of air-core inductors are as follows:
Advantages:
- Low Losses: Air-core inductors have low losses due to the absence of a ferromagnetic material inside. This provides a more efficient performance at high frequencies.
- High Frequency Performance: Air-core inductors can operate more effectively at high frequencies. Their structure, which does not contain a ferromagnetic core, exhibits a more linear behavior at high frequencies.
- Reduction of Parasitic Effects: Ferromagnetic material-free structures reduce parasitic effects. This ensures that unwanted effects are kept to a minimum.
- High Power Handling Capacity: Air-core inductors have a high power handling capacity due to their ferromagnetic-free structure.
Disadvantages:
- Larger Dimensions: Due to their structure without a ferromagnetic core, air-core inductors may need to have larger dimensions to achieve the same inductance value.
- Less Inductance: Their ferromagnetic core-free construction provides less inductance in the same physical dimensions. This can be a disadvantage in applications that require a specific inductance value.
- Production Cost: The manufacturing cost of air core inductors is generally higher than ferromagnetic core inductors. This can be a disadvantage that needs to be balanced with application requirements.
In general, air-core inductors have advantages such as low losses, high frequency performance and reduced parasitic effects. However, there are also some disadvantages, such as their larger size and lower inductance. Therefore, it is important to choose the right type of inductor taking into account the application requirements.
Uses of Air Core Inductor Calculation
Air-core inductor calculation has various uses. Some common uses are as follows:
High Frequency RF Circuits: Air-core inductors are frequently used in high frequency RF (Radio Frequency) circuits. They can be used in applications such as antenna circuits, transmitter and receiver circuits, oscillators and frequency filters.
Radio and Radio Communication Systems: In radio communication equipment and radio transceiver systems, air-core inductors can be used for important functions such as signal processing and frequency separation.
Electronic Signal Processing Equipment: In electronic signal processing devices, air-core inductors can be used for functions such as filtering, separation and frequency selection.
Power Supplies and Inverters: In power supplies and inverters, air-core inductors can be used for filtering and power control. They are also often preferred in high frequency switching circuits.
Industrial Automation and Control Systems: In industrial automation and control systems, air-core inductors can be used with sensors, actuators and other control components.
Medical Devices: Some medical devices may prefer air-core inductors due to their low parasitic effects and high frequency performance.
Air-core inductors are often preferred to ferromagnetic core inductors in high frequency and RF applications. They are characterized by low losses, low parasitic effects and high performance, making them an ideal choice in many electronic systems.