Due to the unique combination of excellent soft magnetic properties, nanocrystalline material is becoming increasingly more important, and will help to further improve tomorrows advanced power electronic systems. Applications like energy generation, energy distribution, energy measurement, and finally energy management. These applications will become more efficient, reliable, lighter, smaller, and smarter compared to existing designs with conventional soft magnetic materials.
Nanocrystalline inductive components will play an even more important role in the establishment of the world wide Smart Grid project which will be the backbone of the ‘new electricity age’.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1:
ELCB / RCCB / RCD
Years ago, ELCB were equipped with Permalloy (NiFe) cores. In recent years NiFe cores are being replaced by nanocrystalline versions. This is due to double the permeability which results in a much smaller size and less costly solutions.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2:
Common Mode EMC Filter Chokes
For many years, common mode filter chokes were solely equipped with ferrite cores. Due to their significantly higher permeability, nanocrystalline core materials reduce weight, size, and power loss by a factor of 50% or more.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 3:
EMC and Bearing Current Protection
Applications with inverter drives face generator or motor bearing currents which reduce the lifetime significantly. Nanocrystalline cores operate as single-turn inductors to solve the problem efficiently.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 4:
HV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)
UHV DC power lines feature only 5% of the transport losses compared to 50Hz AC HV lines which is the most important feature for long distance lines. Nanocrystalline cores provide the protection of the IGBT’s in the HV cascades operating at 800kV up to 1,2 MV.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 5:
HV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)
In combination with UHVV DC lines (example 4) nanocrystalline cores attenuate destructive high current RF transient pulses in GIS which destroy the insulation system of the grid elements.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 6:
Smart Metering (Watt hour meters)
Watt hour meters for household and industrial applications are mostly equipped with a current transformer for each phase. Nanocrystalline cores offer a unique linearity in a large range of temperature and magnetization at a moderate price level.
Several more publications concerning Nanocrystalline components and applications can be found in the Applications section of our website, http://www.mhw-intl.com/applications/ or on our CoolBLUE™ website, www.coolblue-mhw.com