Monday, October 19, 2009

eddy current brake

An eddy current brake, like a conventional friction brake, is responsible for slowing an object, such as a train or a roller coaster. Unlike friction brakes, which apply pressure on two separate objects, eddy current brakes slow an object by creating eddy currents through electromagnetic induction which create resistance, and in turn either heat or electricity.

Construction and operation

Circular eddy current brake

Circular eddy current brake on 700 Series Shinkansen
Electromagnetic brakes are similar to electrical motors; non-ferromagnetic metal discs (rotors) are connected to a rotating coil, and a magnetic field between the rotor and the coil creates a resistance used to generate electricity or heat. When electromagnets are used, control of the braking action is made possible by varying the strength of the magnetic field. A braking force is possible when electric current is passed through the electromagnets. The movement of the metal through the magnetic field of the electromagnets creates eddy currents in the discs. These eddy currents generate an opposing magnetic field, which then resists the rotation of the discs, providing braking force. The net result is to convert the motion of the rotors into heat in the rotors.
Japanese Shinkansen trains had employed circular eddy current brake system on trailer cars since 100 Series Shinkansen. However, N700 Series Shinkansen abolished eddy current brake system because it can utilize regenerative brake easily due to 14 electric motor cars out of 16 cars trainset.

Linear eddy current brake

The principle of the linear eddy current brake has been described by the French physicist Foucault, hence in French the eddy current brake is called the "frein à courants de Foucault".
The linear eddy current brake consists of a magnetic yoke with electrical coils positioned along the rail, which are being magnetized alternating as south and north magnetic poles. This magnet does not touch the rail, as with the magnetic brake, but is held at a constant small distance from the rail (approximately 7 millimeters). It does not move along the rail, exerting only a vertical pull on the rail.
When the magnet is moved along the rail, it generates a non-stationary magnetic field in the head of the rail, which then generates electrical tension (Faraday's induction law), and causes eddy currents. These disturb the magnetic field in such a way that the magnetic force is diverted to the opposite of the direction of the movement, thus creating a horizontal force component, which works against the movement of the magnet.
The braking energy of the vehicle is converted in eddy current losses which lead to a warming of the rail. (The regular magnetic brake, in wide use in railways, exerts its braking force by friction with the rail, which also creates heat.)
The eddy current brake does not have any mechanical contact with the rail, and thus no wear, and creates no noise or odor. The eddy current brake is unusable at low speeds, but can be used at high speeds both for emergency braking and for regular braking.[1]
The TSI (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) of the EU for trans-European high speed rail recommends that all newly built high speed lines should make the eddy current brake possible.
Eddy current brakes at the Intamin roller coaster Goliath in Walibi World (Netherlands)
The first train in commercial circulation to use such a braking is the ICE 3.
Modern roller coasters use this type of braking, but utilize permanent magnets instead of electromagnets, and require no electricity. However, their braking strength cannot be adjusted.

eddy current

An eddy current (also known as Foucault current) is an electrical phenomenon discovered by French physicist François Arago in 1824. It is caused when a conductor is exposed to a changing magnetic field due to relative motion of the field source and conductor; or due to variations of the field with time. This can cause a circulating flow of electrons, or a current, within the body of the conductor. These circulating eddies of current create induced magnetic fields that oppose the change of the original magnetic field due to Lenz's law, causing repulsive or drag forces between the conductor and the magnet. The stronger the applied magnetic field, or the greater the electrical conductivity of the conductor, or the faster the field that the conductor is exposed to changes, then the greater the currents that are developed and the greater the opposing field.
The term eddy current comes from analogous currents seen in water when dragging an oar breadthwise: localised areas of turbulence known as eddies give rise to persistent vortices.
Eddy currents, like all electric currents, generate heat as well as electromagnetic forces. The heat can be harnessed for induction heating. The electromagnetic forces can be used for levitation, creating movement, or to give a strong braking effect. Eddy currents can often be minimised with thin plates, by lamination of conductors or other details of conductor shape

Explanation

As the circular plate moves down through a small region of constant magnetic field directed into the page, eddy currents are induced in the plate. The direction of those currents is given by Lenz's law.
When a conductor moves relative to the field generated by a source, electromotive forces (EMFs) can be generated around loops within the conductor. These EMFs acting on the resistivity of the material generate a current around the loop, in accordance with Faraday's law of induction. These currents dissipate energy, and create a magnetic field that tends to oppose the changes in the field.
Eddy currents are created when a moving conductor experiences changes in the magnetic field generated by a stationary object, as well as when a stationary conductor encounters a varying magnetic field. Both effects are present when a conductor moves through a varying magnetic field, as is the case at the top and bottom edges of the magnetized region shown in the diagram. Eddy currents will be generated wherever a conducting object experiences a change in the intensity or direction of the magnetic field at any point within it, and not just at the boundaries.
The swirling current set up in the conductor is due to electrons experiencing a Lorentz force that is perpendicular to their motion. Hence, they veer to their right, or left, depending on the direction of the applied field and whether the strength of the field is increasing or declining. The resistivity of the conductor acts to damp the amplitude of the eddy currents, as well as straighten their paths. Lenz's law encapsulates the fact that the current swirls in such a way as to create an induced magnetic field that opposes the phenomenon that created it. In the case of a varying applied field, the induced field will always be in the opposite direction to that applied. The same will be true when a varying external field is increasing in strength. However, when a varying field is falling in strength, the induced field will be in the same direction as that originally applied, in order to oppose the decline.
An object or part of an object experiences steady field intensity and direction where there is still relative motion of the field and the object (for example in the center of the field in the diagram), or unsteady fields where the currents cannot circulate due to the geometry of the conductor. In these situations charges collect on or within the object and these charges then produce static electric potentials that oppose any further current. Currents may be initially associated with the creation of static potentials, but these may be transitory and small.
Eddy currents generate resistive losses that transform some forms of energy, such as kinetic energy, into heat. In many devices, this Joule heating reduces efficiency of iron-core transformers and electric motors and other devices that use changing magnetic fields. Eddy currents are minimized in these devices by selecting magnetic core materials that have low electrical conductivity (e.g., ferrites) or by using thin sheets of magnetic material, known as laminations. Electrons cannot cross the insulating gap between the laminations and so are unable to circulate on wide arcs. Charges gather at the lamination boundaries, in a process analogous to the Hall effect, producing electric fields that oppose any further accumulation of charge and hence suppressing the eddy currents. The shorter the distance between adjacent laminations (i.e., the greater the number of laminations per unit area, perpendicular to the applied field), the greater the suppression of eddy currents.
The conversion of input energy to heat is not always undesirable, however, as there are some practical applications. One is in the brakes of some trains known as eddy current brakes. During braking, the metal wheels are exposed to a magnetic field from an electromagnet, generating eddy currents in the wheels. The eddy currents meet resistance as charges flow through the metal, thus dissipating energy as heat, and this acts to slow the wheels down. The faster the wheels are spinning, the stronger the effect, meaning that as the train slows the braking force is reduced, producing a smooth stopping motion.

Strength of eddy currents

Some things usually increase the size and effects of eddy currents:
  • stronger magnetic fields
  • faster changing fields (due to faster relative speeds or otherwise)
  • thicker materials
  • lower resistivity materials (aluminium, copper, silver etc.)
Some things reduce the effects
  • weaker magnets
  • slower changing fields (slower relative speeds)
  • thinner materials
  • slotted materials so that currents cannot circulate
  • laminated materials so that currents cannot circulate
  • higher resistance materials (silicon rich iron etc.)
  • very fast changing fields (skin effect)

Applications

Repulsive effects and levitation

In a fast varying magnetic field the induced currents, in good conductors, particularly copper and aluminium, exhibit diamagnetic-like repulsion effects on the magnetic field, and hence on the magnet and can create repulsive effects and even stable levitation, albeit with reasonably high power dissipation due to the high currents this entails.
They can thus be used to induce a magnetic field in aluminum cans, which allows them to be separated easily from other recyclables. With a very strong handheld magnet, such as those made from neodymium, one can easily observe a very similar effect by rapidly sweeping the magnet over a coin with only a small separation. Depending on the strength of the magnet, identity of the coin, and separation between the magnet and coin, one may induce the coin to be pushed slightly ahead of the magnet - even if the coin contains no magnetic elements, such as the US penny.
Superconductors allow perfect, lossless conduction, which creates perpetually circulating eddy currents that are equal and opposite to the external magnetic field, thus allowing magnetic levitation. For the same reason, the magnetic field inside a superconducting medium will be exactly zero, regardless of the external applied field.

Identification of metals

In coin operated vending machines, eddy currents are used to detect counterfeit coins, or slugs. The coin rolls past a stationary magnet, and eddy currents slow its speed. The strength of the eddy currents, and thus the amount of slowing, depends on the conductivity of the coin's metal. Slugs are slowed to a different degree than genuine coins, and this is used to send them into the rejection slot.

Vibration | Position Sensing

Eddy currents are used in certain types of proximity sensors to observe the vibration and position of rotating shafts within their bearings. This technology was originally pioneered in the 1930s by researchers at General Electric using vacuum tube circuitry. In the late 1950s, solid-state versions were developed by Donald E. Bently at Bently Nevada Corporation. These sensors are extremely sensitive to very small displacements making them well suited to observe the minute vibrations (on the order of several thousandths of an inch) in modern turbomachinery. A typical proximity sensor used for vibration monitoring has a scale factor of 200 mV/mil. Widespread use of such sensors in turbomachinery has led to development of industry standards that prescribe their use and application. Examples of such standards are American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 670 and ISO 7919.

Electromagnetic braking

Eddy currents are used for braking at the end of some roller coasters. This mechanism has no mechanical wear and produces a very precise braking force. Typically, heavy copper plates extending from the car are moved between pairs of very strong permanent magnets. Electrical resistance within the plates causes a dragging effect analogous to friction, which dissipates the kinetic energy of the car. The same technique is used in electromagnetic brakes in railroad cars and to quickly stop the blades in power tools such as circular saws.

Structural testing

Eddy current techniques are commonly used for the nondestructive examination (NDE) and condition monitoring of a large variety of metallic structures, including heat exchanger tubes, aircraft fuselage, and aircraft structural components.

Side effects

Eddy currents are the root cause of the skin effect in conductors carrying AC current.
Similarly, in magnetic materials of finite conductivity eddy currents cause the confinement of magnetic fields to only a couple skin depths of the surface of the material. This effect limits the flux linkage in inductors and transformers having magnetic cores.

Other applications

Diffusion Equation

The derivation of a useful equation for modeling the effect of eddy currents in a material starts with the differential, magnetostatic form of Ampère's Law[4], providing an expression for the magnetic field H surrounding a current density J,
\nabla \times \mathbf{H} = \mathbf{J}.
The curl is taken on both sides of the equation,
\nabla \times \left(\nabla \times \mathbf{H} \right) = \nabla \times \mathbf{J},
and using a common vector calculus identity for the curl of the curl results in
\nabla \left( \nabla \cdot \mathbf{H} \right) - \nabla^2\mathbf{H} = \nabla \times \mathbf{J}.
From Gauss's law for magnetism, \nabla \cdot \mathbf{H} = 0, which drops a term from the expression and gives
-\nabla^2\mathbf{H}=\nabla\times\mathbf{J}.
Using Ohm's law, \mathbf{J}=\sigma \boldsymbol{\Epsilon}, which relates current density J to electric field Ε in terms of a material's conductivity σ, and assuming isotropic conductivity, the equation can be written as
-\nabla^2\mathbf{H}=\sigma\nabla\times\boldsymbol{\Epsilon}.
The differential form of Faraday's law, \nabla \times \boldsymbol{\Epsilon} = -\frac{\partial \mathbf{B}}{\partial t}, provides an equivalence for the change in magnetic flux B in place of the curl of the electric field, so that the equation can be simplified to
\nabla^2\mathbf{H} = \sigma \frac{\partial \mathbf{B}}{\partial t}.
By definition, \mathbf{B}=\mu_0\left(\mathbf{H}+\mathbf{M}\right), where M is the magnetization of a material, and the diffusion equation finally appears as
\nabla^2\mathbf{H} = \mu_0 \sigma \left( \frac{\partial \mathbf{M} }{\partial t}+\frac{\partial \mathbf{H}}{\partial t} \right).

Inductance

Inductance is the property in an electrical circuit where a change in the electric current through that circuit induces an electromotive force (EMF) that opposes the change in current (See Induced EMF).
In electrical circuits, any electric current i produces a magnetic field and hence generates a total magnetic flux Φ acting on the circuit. This magnetic flux, due to Lenz's law, tends to act to oppose changes in the flux by generating a voltage (a back EMF) that counters or tends to reduce the rate of change in the current.
The ratio of the magnetic flux to the current is called the self-inductance, which is usually simply referred to as the inductance of the circuit. The term 'inductance' was coined by Oliver Heaviside in February 1886.[1] It is customary to use the symbol L for inductance, possibly in honour of the physicist Heinrich Lenz.[2] [3]
In honour of Joseph Henry, the unit of inductance has been given the name Henry (H): 1 H = 1 Wb/A.

Definitions

The quantitative definition of the (self-) inductance of a wire loop in SI units (webers per ampere, known as henries) is
\displaystyle L= \frac{N\Phi}{i}
where Φ denotes the magnetic flux through the area spanned by the loop, and N is the number of wire turns. The flux linkage thus is
\displaystyle N{\Phi} = Li.
There may, however, be contributions from other circuits. Consider for example two circuits C1, C2, carrying the currents i1, i2. The flux linkages of C1 and C2 are given by
\displaystyle N_1\Phi_1 = L_{11}i_1 + L_{12}i_2,
\displaystyle N_2\Phi_2 = L_{21}i_1 + L_{22}i_2.
According to the above definition, L11 and L22 are the self-inductances of C1 and C2, respectively. It can be shown (see below) that the other two coefficients are equal: L12 = L21 = M, where M is called the mutual inductance of the pair of circuits.
The number of turns N1 and N2 occur somewhat asymmetrically in the definition above. But actually Lmn always is proportional to the product NmNn, and thus the total currents Nmim contribute to the flux.
Self and mutual inductances also occur in the expression
\displaystyle W=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{m,n=1}^{K}L_{m,n}i_{m}i_{n}
for the energy of the magnetic field generated by K electrical circuits where in is the current in the nth circuit. This equation is an alternative definition of inductance that also applies when the currents are not confined to thin wires so that it is not immediately clear what area is encompassed by the circuit nor how the magnetic flux through the circuit is to be defined.
The definition L = NΦ / i, in contrast, is more direct and more intuitive. It may be shown that the two definitions are equivalent by equating the time derivative of W and the electric power transferred to the system. It should be noted that this analysis assumes linearity, for nonlinear definitions and discussion see nonlinear inductance.

Properties of inductance

Taking the time derivative of both sides of the equation NΦ = Li yields:
N\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = L \frac{di}{dt} + \frac{dL}{dt} i \,
In most physical cases, the inductance is constant with time and so
N\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = L \frac{di}{dt}
By Faraday's Law of Induction we have:
N\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = -\mathcal{E} = v
where \mathcal{E} is the Electromotive force (emf) and v is the induced voltage. Note that the emf is opposite to the induced voltage. Thus:
\frac{di}{dt} = \frac{v}{L}
or
i(t) = \frac{1}{L}   \int_0^tv(\tau) d\tau + i(0)
These equations together state that, for a steady applied voltage v, the current changes in a linear manner, at a rate proportional to the applied voltage, but inversely proportional to the inductance. Conversely, if the current through the inductor is changing at a constant rate, the induced voltage is constant.
The effect of inductance can be understood using a single loop of wire as an example. If a voltage is suddenly applied between the ends of the loop of wire, the current must change from zero to non-zero. However, a non-zero current induces a magnetic field by Ampère's law. This change in the magnetic field induces an emf that is in the opposite direction of the change in current. The strength of this emf is proportional to the change in current and the inductance. When these opposing forces are in balance, the result is a current that increases linearly with time where the rate of this change is determined by the applied voltage and the inductance.
An alternative explanation of this behaviour is possible in terms of energy conservation. Multiplying the equation for di / dt above with Li leads to
Li\frac{di}{dt}=\frac{d}{dt}\frac{L}{2}i^{2}=iv
Since iv is the energy transferred to the system per time it follows that \left( L/2 \right)i^2 is the energy of the magnetic field generated by the current. A change in current thus implies a change in magnetic field energy, and this only is possible if there also is a voltage.
A mechanical analogy is a body with mass M, velocity v and kinetic energy (M / 2)v2. A change in velocity (current) requires or generates a force (an electrical voltage) proportional to mass (inductance).

Phasor circuit analysis and impedance

Using phasors, the equivalent impedance of an inductance is given by:
Z_L = V / I = j L \omega  \,
where
j is the imaginary unit,
L is the inductance,
 \omega = 2 \pi f \, is the angular frequency,
f is the frequency and
 L \omega \ = X_L is the inductive reactance.

Induced emf

The flux \Phi_i\ \! through the i-th circuit in a set is given by:
 \Phi_i = \sum_{j} M_{ij}I_j = L_i I_i + \sum_{j\ne i} M_{ij}I_j \,
so that the induced emf, \mathcal{E}, of a specific circuit, i, in any given set can be given directly by:
\mathcal{E} = -\frac{d\Phi_i}{dt} = -\frac{d}{dt} \left (L_i I_i + \sum_{j\ne i} M_{ij}I_j \right ) = -\left(\frac{dL_i}{dt}I_i +\frac{dI_i}{dt}L_i \right) -\sum_{j\ne i} \left (\frac{dM_{ij}}{dt}I_j + \frac{dI_j}{dt}M_{ij} \right).

Coupled inductors

The circuit diagram representation of mutually inducting inductors. The two vertical lines between the inductors indicate a solid core that the wires of the inductor are wrapped around. "n:m" shows the ratio between the number of windings of the left inductor to windings of the right inductor. This picture also shows the dot convention.
Mutual inductance occurs when the change in current in one inductor induces a voltage in another nearby inductor. It is important as the mechanism by which transformers work, but it can also cause unwanted coupling between conductors in a circuit.
The mutual inductance, M, is also a measure of the coupling between two inductors. The mutual inductance by circuit i on circuit j is given by the double integral Neumann formula, see calculation techniques
The mutual inductance also has the relationship:
M_{21} = N_1 N_2 P_{21} \!
where
M21 is the mutual inductance, and the subscript specifies the relationship of the voltage induced in coil 2 to the current in coil 1.
N1 is the number of turns in coil 1,
N2 is the number of turns in coil 2,
P21 is the permeance of the space occupied by the flux.
The mutual inductance also has a relationship with the coupling coefficient. The coupling coefficient is always between 1 and 0, and is a convenient way to specify the relationship between a certain orientation of inductor with arbitrary inductance:
M = k \sqrt{L_1 L_2} \!
where
k is the coupling coefficient and 0 ≤ k ≤ 1,
L1 is the inductance of the first coil, and
L2 is the inductance of the second coil.
Once the mutual inductance, M, is determined from this factor, it can be used to predict the behavior of a circuit:
 V_1 = L_1 \frac{dI_1}{dt} - M \frac{dI_2}{dt}
where
V is the voltage across the inductor of interest,
L1 is the inductance of the inductor of interest,
dI1 / dt is the derivative, with respect to time, of the current through the inductor of interest,
dI2 / dt is the derivative, with respect to time, of the current through the inductor that is coupled to the first inductor, and
M is the mutual inductance. The minus sign arises because of the sense the current I_2\,\! has been defined in the diagram. With both currents defined going into the dots the sign of M will be positive.[4]
When one inductor is closely coupled to another inductor through mutual inductance, such as in a transformer, the voltages, currents, and number of turns can be related in the following way:
V_s = V_p \frac{N_s}{N_p}
where
Vs is the voltage across the secondary inductor,
Vp is the voltage across the primary inductor (the one connected to a power source),
Ns is the number of turns in the secondary inductor, and
Np is the number of turns in the primary inductor.
Conversely the current:
I_s = I_p \frac{N_p}{N_s}
where
Is is the current through the secondary inductor,
Ip is the current through the primary inductor (the one connected to a power source),
Ns is the number of turns in the secondary inductor, and
Np is the number of turns in the primary inductor.
Note that the power through one inductor is the same as the power through the other. Also note that these equations don't work if both transformers are forced (with power sources).
When either side of the transformer is a tuned circuit, the amount of mutual inductance between the two windings determines the shape of the frequency response curve. Although no boundaries are defined, this is often referred to as loose-, critical-, and over-coupling. When two tuned circuits are loosely coupled through mutual inductance, the bandwidth will be narrow. As the amount of mutual inductance increases, the bandwidth continues to grow. When the mutual inductance is increased beyond a critical point, the peak in the response curve begins to drop, and the center frequency will be attenuated more strongly than its direct sidebands. This is known as overcoupling.

Calculation techniques

Mutual inductance

The mutual inductance by a filamentary circuit i on a filamentary circuit j is given by the double integral Neumann formula
  M_{ij} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \oint_{C_i}\oint_{C_j} \frac{\mathbf{ds}_i\cdot\mathbf{ds}_j}{|\mathbf{R}_{ij}|}
The symbol μ0 denotes the magnetic constant (4π × 10−7 H/m), Ci and Cj are the curves spanned by the wires, Rij is the distance between two points. See a derivation of this equation.

Self-inductance

Formally the self-inductance of a wire loop would be given by the above equation with i =j. However, 1 / R becomes infinite and thus the finite radius a along with the distribution of the current in the wire must be taken into account. There remain the contribution from the integral over all points where |R| \ge a/2 and a correction term,
 M_{ii} = L \approx \left (\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \oint_{C}\oint_{C'} \frac{\mathbf{ds}\cdot\mathbf{ds}'}{|\mathbf{R}|}\right )_{|\mathbf{R}| \ge a/2}
+ \frac{\mu_0}{2\pi}lY
Here a and l denote radius and length of the wire, and Y is a constant that depends on the distribution of the current in the wire: Y = 0 when the current flows in the surface of the wire (skin effect), Y = 1 / 4 when the current is homogenuous across the wire. This approximation is accurate when the wires are long compared to their cross-sectional dimensions. Here is a derivation of this equation.

Method of images

In some cases different current distributions generate the same magnetic field in some section of space. This fact may be used to relate self inductances (method of images). As an example consider the two systems:
  • A wire at distance d / 2 in front of a perfectly conducting wall (which is the return)
  • Two parallel wires at distance d, with opposite current
The magnetic field of the two systems coincides (in a half space). The magnetic field energy and the inductance of the second system thus are twice as large as that of the first system.

Relation between inductance and capacitance

Inductance per length L' and capacitance per length C' are related to each other in the special case of transmission lines consisting of two parallel perfect conductors of arbitrary but constant cross section,[5]
\displaystyle L'C'={\varepsilon \mu}.
Here \varepsilon and μ denote dielectric constant and magnetic permeability of the medium the conductors are embedded in. There is no electric and no magnetic field inside the conductors (complete skin effect, high frequency). Current flows down on one line and returns on the other. The signal propagation speed coincides with the propagation speed of electromagnetic waves in the bulk.

Self-inductance of simple electrical circuits in air

The self-inductance of many types of electrical circuits can be given in closed form. Examples are listed in the table.
Inductance of simple electrical circuits in air
Type Inductance / μ0 Comment
Single layer
solenoid[6]
 \frac{r^{2}N^{2}}{3l}\left\{ -8w + 4\frac{\sqrt{1+m}}{m}\left( K\left( \frac{m}{1+m}\right)
-\left( 1-m\right) E\left( \frac{m}{1+m}\right) \right)
\right\} =\frac{r^2N^2\pi}{l}\left\{ 1-\frac{8w}{3\pi }+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\left( 
\frac{ 1\cdot 3...\left( 2n-3\right) }{2\cdot 4\cdot 6...2n}\right) ^{2}\frac{2n-1}{
2n+2}2^{2n+1}\left( -1\right) ^{n+1}w^{2n}\right\}
 =\frac {r^2N^2\pi}{l}\left( 1 - \frac{8w}{3\pi} + \frac{w^2}{2} - \frac{w^4}{4} + \frac{5w^6}{16} - \frac{35w^8}{64} + ... \right) for w << 1
= rN^2 \left\{ \left( 1 + \frac{1}{32w^2} + O(\frac{1}{w^4}) \right) \ln{8w} - 1/2 + \frac{1}{128w^2} + O(\frac{1}{w^4}) \right\} for w >> 1
N: Number of turns
r: Radius
l: Length
w = r / l
m = 4w2
E,K: Elliptic integrals
Coaxial cable,
high frequency
 \frac {l}{2\pi} \ln{\frac {a_1}{a}}  a1: Outer radius
a: Inner radius
l: Length
Circular loop r \cdot \left( \ln{ \frac {8 r}{a}} - 2 + Y\right) r: Loop radius
a: Wire radius
Rectangle \frac {1}{\pi}\left(b\ln{\frac {2 b}{a}} + d\ln{\frac {2d}{a}} - \left(b+d\right)\left(2-Y\right)
+2\sqrt{b^2+d^2} -b\cdot\operatorname{arsinh}{\frac {b}{d}}-d\cdot\operatorname{arsinh}{\frac {d}{b}}
\right) b, d: Border length
d >> a, b >> a
a: Wire radius
Pair of parallel
wires
 \frac {l}{\pi} \left( \ln{\frac {d}{a}} + Y \right) a: Wire radius
d: Distance, d ≥ 2a
l: Length of pair
Pair of parallel
wires, high
frequency
 \frac {l}{2\pi}\operatorname{arcosh}\left( \frac {d^{2}}{2a^{2}}-1\right)  a: Wire radius
d: Distance, d ≥ 2a
l: Length of pair
Wire parallel to
perfectly
conducting wall
 \frac {l}{2\pi}  \left( \ln{\frac {2d}{a}} + Y \right) a: Wire radius
d: Distance, d ≥ a
l: Length
Wire parallel to
conducting wall,
high frequency
 \frac {l}{4\pi}\operatorname{arcosh}\left( \frac {2d^{2}}{a^{2}}-1\right) a: Wire radius
d: Distance, d ≥ a
l: Length
The symbol μ0 denotes the magnetic constant (4π × 10−7 H/m). For high frequencies the electrical current flows in the conductor surface (skin effect), and depending on the geometry it sometimes is necessary to distinguish low and high frequency inductances. This is the purpose of the constant Y: Y=0 when the current is uniformly distributed over the surface of the wire (skin effect), Y=1/4 when the current is uniformly distributed over the cross section of the wire. In the high frequency case, if conductors approach each other, an additional screening current flows in their surface, and expressions containing Y become invalid.

Inductance of a solenoid

A solenoid is a long, thin coil, i.e. a coil whose length is much greater than the diameter. Under these conditions, and without any magnetic material used, the magnetic flux density B within the coil is practically constant and is given by
\displaystyle B = \mu_0 Ni/l
where μ0 is the magnetic constant, N the number of turns, i the current and l the length of the coil. Ignoring end effects the total magnetic flux through the coil is obtained by multiplying the flux density B by the cross-section area A and the number of turns N:
\displaystyle \Phi = \mu_0NiA/l,
from which it follows that the inductance of a solenoid is given by:
\displaystyle L = \mu_0N^2A/l.
A table of inductance for short solenoids of various diameter to length ratios has been calculated by Dellinger, Whittmore, and Ould[7]
This, and the inductance of more complicated shapes, can be derived from Maxwell's equations. For rigid air-core coils, inductance is a function of coil geometry and number of turns, and is independent of current.
Similar analysis applies to a solenoid with a magnetic core, but only if the length of the coil is much greater than the product of the relative permeability of the magnetic core and the diameter. That limits the simple analysis to low-permeability cores, or extremely long thin solenoids. Although rarely useful, the equations are,
\displaystyle B = \mu_0\mu_r Ni/l
where μr the relative permeability of the material within the solenoid,
\displaystyle \Phi = \mu_0\mu_rN^2iA/l,
from which it follows that the inductance of a solenoid is given by:
\displaystyle L = \mu_0\mu_rN^2A/l.
Note that since the permeability of ferromagnetic materials changes with applied magnetic flux, the inductance of a coil with a ferromagnetic core will generally vary with current.

Inductance of a coaxial line

Let the inner conductor have radius ri and permeability μi, let the dielectric between the inner and outer conductor have permeability μd, and let the outer conductor have inner radius ro1, outer radius ro2, and permeability μo. Assume that a DC current I flows in opposite directions in the two conductors, with uniform current density. The magnetic field generated by these currents points in the azimuthal direction and is a function of radius r; it can be computed using Ampère's Law:
0 \leq r \leq r_i: B(r) = \frac{\mu_i I r}{2 \pi r_i^2}
r_i \leq r \leq r_{o1}: B(r) = \frac{\mu_d I}{2 \pi r}
r_{o1} \leq r \leq r_{o2}: B(r) = \frac{\mu_o I}{2 \pi r} \left( \frac{r_{o2}^2 - r^2}{r_{o2}^2 - r_{o1}^2} \right)
The flux per length l in the region between the conductors can be computed by drawing a surface containing the axis:
\frac{d\phi_d}{dl} = \int_{r_i}^{r_{o1}} B(r) dr = \frac{\mu_d I}{2 \pi} \ln\frac{r_{o1}}{r_i}
Inside the conductors, L can be computed by equating the energy stored in an inductor, \frac{1}{2}LI^2, with the energy stored in the magnetic field:
\frac{1}{2}LI^2 = \int_V \frac{B^2}{2\mu} dV
For a cylindrical geometry with no l dependence, the energy per unit length is
\frac{1}{2}L'I^2 = \int_{r_1}^{r_2} \frac{B^2}{2\mu} 2 \pi r~dr
where L' is the inductance per unit length. For the inner conductor, the integral on the right-hand-side is \frac{\mu_i I^2}{16 \pi}; for the outer conductor it is \frac{\mu_o I^2}{4 \pi} \left( \frac{r_{o2}^2}{r_{o2}^2 - r_{o1}^2} \right)^2 \ln\frac{r_{o2}}{r_{o1}} - \frac{\mu_o I^2}{8 \pi} \left( \frac{r_{o2}^2}{r_{o2}^2 - r_{o1}^2} \right) - \frac{\mu_o I^2}{16 \pi}
Solving for L' and summing the terms for each region together gives a total inductance per unit length of:
L' = \frac{\mu_i}{8 \pi} + \frac{\mu_d}{2 \pi} \ln\frac{r_{o1}}{r_i} + \frac{\mu_o}{2 \pi} \left( \frac{r_{o2}^2}{r_{o2}^2 - r_{o1}^2} \right)^2 \ln\frac{r_{o2}}{r_{o1}} - \frac{\mu_o}{4 \pi} \left( \frac{r_{o2}^2}{r_{o2}^2 - r_{o1}^2} \right) - \frac{\mu_o}{8 \pi}
However, for a typical coaxial line application we are interested in passing (non-DC) signals at frequencies for which the resistive skin effect cannot be neglected. In most cases, the inner and outer conductor terms are negligible, in which case one may approximate
L' = \frac{dL}{dl} \approx \frac{\mu_d}{2 \pi} \ln\frac{r_{o1}}{r_i}

Nonlinear Inductance

Many inductors make use of magnetic materials. These materials over a large enough range exhibit a nonlinear permeability with such effects as saturation. This in-turn makes the resulting inductance a function of the applied current. Faraday's Law still holds but inductance is ambiguous and is different whether you are calculating circuit parameters or magnetic fluxes.
The secant or large-signal inductance is used in flux calculations. It is defined as:
L_s(i)\ \overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \ \frac{N\Phi}{i} = \frac{\Lambda}{i}
The differential or small-signal inductance, on the other hand, is used in calculating voltage. It is defined as:
L_d(i)\ \overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \ \frac{d(N\Phi)}{di} = \frac{d\Lambda}{di}
The circuit voltage for a nonlinear inductor is obtained via the differential inductance as shown by Faraday's Law and the chain rule of calculus.
v(t) = \frac{d\Lambda}{dt} = \frac{d\Lambda}{di}\frac{di}{dt} = L_d(i)\frac{di}{dt}
There are similar definitions for nonlinear mutual inductances.