Gap-Free Dust Core for Reactors via Composite Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dust cores for reactors suffer from high core loss, leading to heat generation and reduced circuit efficiency due to leakage flux and noise issues, and have poor DC superposition characteristics due to gaps and low permeability, which complicates assembly and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A method for manufacturing a dust core with a high-density, gap-free structure by uniformly dispersing insulative fine powders around soft magnetic powders using a high-pressure molding process, including a heating process above 1000°C, granulating with a double-layer insulative film, and annealing to reduce hysteresis loss and enhance DC superposition characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gaps are provided in the magnetic core to increase current value for saturating the magnetic core, then the saturated magnetic flux density is improved, but leakage flux causes heat generation and noise, and assembly becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesaturated magnetic flux densityVSAvoidleakage flux
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the magnetic core material by adding specific insulative powders (alumina, silica, magnesia) at controlled ratios (0.1-5.0 wt%) to the soft magnetic powder mixture. This modification enables the core to achieve high saturated magnetic flux density while eliminating leakage flux through the material composition change rather than structural gaps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite magnetic core material by combining soft magnetic powder with insulative powders (alumina, silica, magnesia) and organic insulative material. This composite structure provides both the magnetic properties needed for high flux density and the insulative properties to prevent leakage flux, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If gaps are provided in the magnetic core, then the saturated magnetic flux density is improved, but the assembly process becomes complex and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesaturated magnetic flux densityVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material composition parameters by incorporating insulative powders and insulative coatings on magnetic powder particles, which eliminates the need for mechanical gaps and complex assembly procedures while maintaining high saturated magnetic flux density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite magnetic core material integrates insulative properties directly into the magnetic material matrix, eliminating the need for separate gap structures and simplifying the assembly process to a single molded component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the dust core uses high saturated magnetic flux density material, then the magnetic flux density is improved, but the core loss increases causing heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux densityVSAvoidcore loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material combines soft magnetic powder (for high magnetic flux density) with insulative powders like alumina and silica (for low eddy current loss). The insulative particles are distributed throughout the magnetic matrix, creating a structure that maintains high magnetic performance while reducing energy loss and heat generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local insulative properties at the particle level by coating individual magnetic powder particles with insulative materials. This localized approach reduces eddy current paths throughout the material bulk, lowering core loss while preserving the overall magnetic flux density capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces heat generation, noise, and core loss, improves DC superposition characteristics, facilitates assembly, and downsizes the reactor while maintaining high magnetic flux density and inductance.

Implementation Method 1

a heating process at a temperature of equal to or higher than 1000°C and below a sintering temperature at which soft magnetic powders start to be sintered

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Implementation Method 2

annealing to reduce hysteresis loss and enhance DC superposition characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentEP2518740B1Method for producing a reactor
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 TAMURA KK
  • EP2518740B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2518740B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2518740B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In a first mixing process, soft magnetic powders and inorganic insulative powders of 0.4-1.5 wt% relative to the soft magnetic powders are mixed. In the heating process, a mixture through the first mixing process is heated at a temperature of 1000 °C or more and below the sintering temperature of the soft magnetic powders under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. In the granulating process, a silane coupling agent of 0.1-0.5 wt% is added to form an adhesiveness enhancing layer. A silicon resin of 0.5-2.0 wt% is added to the soft magnetic alloy powders having the adhesiveness enhancing layer formed by the silane coupling agent to form a binding layer. A lubricating resin is mixed, and a mixture is pressed and molded to form a mold. In an annealing process, the mold is annealed under a non-oxidizing atmosphere to form a dust core which is used to form a reactor.