How to store energy in air core inductors

What is an air core inductor?

An Air Core Inductor is a type of inductor that uses the self-inductance of a wire coil to store energy in a magnetic field instead of using a ferromagnetic core material like iron or ferrite. As the name suggests the core in this inductor can be air. These inductors are used in applications where low inductance & high frequency are required.

Do air-core inductors have a magnetic core?

A: Air-core inductors have no magnetic core material, relying solely on the magnetic field generated by the current flowing through the windings. Inductors with ferromagnetic cores use materials such as iron, ferrite, or permalloy to enhance the magnetic field and increase the inductance value for a given size.

What determines the inductance of an air core inductor?

The inductance of an air core inductor is dependent on the number of turns in the coil, the wire's diameter, and the coil's physical dimensions. The coils are generally produced with copper material insulated wire with stripped and non-stripped ends and tinned or bare ends.

Why are air core inductors a good choice?

This translates to sharper signal filtering and lower distortion. Low Distortion: The lack of a core minimizes magnetic hysteresis and saturation effects, which can distort signals in other inductor types. This makes air core inductors ideal for applications demanding high signal fidelity.

Why does air core inductor have low inductance?

As we know, air is a poor conductor of electric current and magnetic field, thus the air core inductor will have very low inductance. Hence, the magnetic field produced by the air core inductor is also weak. Let, Then, the inductance of the air core inductor is given by,

Are air core inductors good for RF circuits?

This makes them perfect for radio frequency (RF) circuits. However, there are also some limitations to consider: Lower Inductance: Air core inductors have a core that amplifies the magnetic field, making achieving high inductance values easier. However, more wire turns may be necessary to achieve the desired inductance.