Inductance

Inductance, symbolized by the letter 'L', is the tendency of an electrical circuit to oppose changes in the electric current flowing through it. This opposition arises from the generation of a magnetic field around the circuit when current flows. A higher inductance value signifies a greater opposition to current changes and a stronger magnetic field for a given current. It is measured in units called henries (H). inductance is a crucial property in many electrical devices, playing a vital role in energy storage, filtering, and signal processing, primarily in components like inductors, transformers, and chokes. This property stems from Faraday's law of induction, where a changing current induces a voltage, opposing the original change in current.

Inductance meaning with examples

• The engineer carefully selected an inductor with a high inductance value to effectively filter out high-frequency noise from the power supply. This was necessary as the system was very susceptible to noise, hence the need for a high level of protection. The amount of protection a system can achieve from inductance is highly dependent on the inductance.
• In a transformer, the primary and secondary windings are designed to have a specific mutual inductance, allowing for the efficient transfer of electrical energy. The mutual inductance of the two windings enables a voltage to be induced in the secondary coil when current changes in the primary. Without the proper inductance, a transformer would not function.
• The choke coil in the circuit has a significant inductance, impeding rapid changes in current and smoothing out the pulsating direct current. The large inductance helps reduce the ripple effect, and without it the direct current wouldn't be as smooth. This is a core function of this key device used in smoothing current.
• During the design phase of the wireless charging system, the engineer had to carefully consider the inductance of both the transmitter and receiver coils to maximize the energy transfer efficiency. Achieving high efficiency is essential to the system's usefulness, and carefully managing the inductance is a primary factor.