Reluctance - definition
Reluctance - definition
Reluctance is a physical quantity describing the resistance that a given magnetic circuit places on the flow of magnetic flux. It is analogous to resistance in electrical circuits, but refers to phenomena occurring in a magnetic field. Reluctance depends on the geometry of the magnetic circuit and the properties of the materials of which it is constructed, primarily the length of the magnetic path, the cross-sectional area and the magnetic permeability of the medium.
Mathematically, reluctance is defined as the ratio of magnetomotive force (MMF) to magnetic flux. In the SI system of units is expressed in ampere per weber (A/Wb). It increases with the length of the flux path and decreases with increasing cross-sectional area or the use of material with higher magnetic permeability. Vacuum and air, which have a very low permeability, have a high reluctance, while ferromagnetic materials such as steel or iron have a much lower reluctance.
Reluctance plays a key role in the design of transformers, Coils, motors and electromagnetic devices, where proper guidance of magnetic fluxes allows high energy efficiency to be achieved. Technical practice also takes into account the non-linearity of reluctance, resulting from the saturation of magnetic materials and the presence of air gaps in cores. In magnetic circuits, as in electrical circuits, analogies to Ohm's law are used, allowing flux flow to be modelled using simplified circuit equations.
Understanding and controlling reluctance allows magnetic circuits to be optimised for losses, inductance and field distribution, which is important both in power devices and in sensors or actuators for automation systems .
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