Inductors are frequently used in power distribution systems, electronic devices, and industrial equipment alike. They’re designed to store energy in a magnetic field, which is created by a current flowing through a coiled wire. When it comes to selecting inductors for your unique operation, you have two main options to choose from: air core inductors and iron core inductors.
Air core inductors don’t contain any magnetic materials within the coiled wire. Since there’s no metal core, these inductors can prevent magnetic losses and maintain stability even if the electrical current fluctuates. Iron core inductors, on the other hand, contain a core made of iron, ferrite, or another magnetic material. This can greatly increase the strength of the magnetic field, which raises the energy storage capacity.
Although both air core and iron core inductors are designed to perform the same function, their performance can vary greatly. Here are a few key differences between the two inductor types:
- Inductance Levels. Air core inductors have lower inductance values since there’s no magnetic material to increase the concentration of the magnetic field.
- Frequency Performance. Iron core inductors are best suited for low- or medium-frequency applications, whereas air core inductors can perform well at very high frequencies.
- Energy Loss. Air core inductors won’t lose any energy due to current fluctuations, but iron core inductors can have some energy losses due to their magnetic properties.
- Saturation. Iron core inductors can reach magnetic saturation if the current becomes too high, which may reduce inductance levels. Air core inductors cannot become saturated since they contain no magnetic material.