Determination of the necessary inductor core dimensions for switching electrical energy converters

Abstract

Each developer of switching electrical energy converters, sooner or later, faces the need to select or develop an inductor. However, currently, the method of choosing an inductor core for switching converters is very ambiguous, fragmented and confused. In the article, formulas are obtained that allow determining the minimum-necessary product of the core cross-sectional area by the core window cross- sectional area for the inductors of the most common switching converters circuits: buck, boost, buck-boost and fly-buck. In addition, the best mode of core operation, from the energy point of view, in which the maximum converters power density is provided both in the transmission and recuperation modes, is analyzed in the article. The article is intended for a wide range of electronics developers, including for specialists engaged in research of switching electrical energy converters.