EDDY CURRENT

CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORY
• EXPLANATION
• PROPERTIES
• SIGNIFICANCE
• ADVANTAGES
• LIMITATIONS
• APPLICATIONS
 INTRODUCTION
• Eddy currents are the currents induced in the body of a conductor
when the amount of magnetic flux linked with it changes. The
experimental concept was given by Focault and hence they are also
named as Focault currents.
• The direction of the eddy current is given by Lenz’s law.
 HISTORY
• The term eddy current comes from analogous currents seen in water causing
localised areas of turbulence known as eddies.
• The first person to observe eddy currents was François Arago. In 1824 he
observed rotatory magnetism, and stated that most conductive bodies could be
magnetized; these discoveries were completed and explained by Michael
Faraday.

• In 1834, Heinrich Lenz stated Lenz's law.

• The first use of eddy current for non-destructive testing occurred in 1879
when David E. Hughes used the principles to conduct metallurgical sorting tests.
 EXPLANATION

Eddy currents (I, red) induced in a conductive metal plate (C) as it moves to right under a magnet (N).
The magnetic field (B, green) is directed down through the plate. The increasing field at the leading
edge of the magnet (left) induces a counterclockwise current, which by Lenz's law creates its own
magnetic field (left blue arrow)directed up, which opposes the magnet's field, producing a retarding
force. Similarly, at the trailing edge of the magnet (right), a clockwise current and downward
counterfield is created (right blue arrow) also producing a retarding force.
Special Examples on eddy currents

• (1)If a metal piece and a stone are dropped from the same height near
earth’s surface, then eddy currents are produced in the falling metal piece
due to earth’s magnetic field which opposes its motion. So the metal piece
falls with acceleration a < g. Whereas no eddies are produced in stone, so
it will fall with acceleration due to gravity. So the stone will reach the earth
earlier.
• For any time interval : hmetal > Hnonmetal
• For any given height : tmetal > tnonmetal
• (2)If a metallic plate is below an oscillating magnet, then magnet stops
soon because eddy currents are produced in the plate which opposes the
motion of magnet. This is the basis of electromagnetic damping.
• (3) If a bar magnet is falling vertically through the hollow region of a long
vertical copper tube, then the magnetic flux linked with the copper tube
(due to ‘non-uniform’ magnetic field of magnet) changes and eddy currents
are generated in the body of the tube.
By Lenz’s law the eddy currents oppose the falling of the magnet which
therefore experiences a retarding force .The retarding force increases with
increasing velocity of the magnet and finally equals the weight of the
magnet. The magnet then attains a constant final terminal velocity i.e.
magnet ultimately falls with zero acceleration in the tube.
• On heating the tube its resistance will increase and so the eddy currents
will become feeble, resulting in an increase in the terminal velocity of the
magnet.
 PROPERTIES
• Eddy currents are circular induced currents produced in metal bodies.
• They are placed in a time varying magnetic field.
• They move in a magnetic field such that their flux through them
changes or they cut away magnetic field lines .
• These currents are produced only in closed path. Therefore their
measurement is impossible.
• These currents are always produced in planes perpendicular to
magnetic lines of force.
 PROPERTIES CONTD..
• The resistance of bulk conductor is usually low, eddy currents often
have large magnitudes and heat up the conductor. That’s why these
are sometimes undesirable.
• By ‘ Laminations ’ , slotting process, the resistance path for circulation
of eddies increases, resulting in to weakening them and also reducing
losses caused by them.
• Slots and laminations intercept the conducting paths and decrease
the magnitude of eddy currents.
SIGNIFICANCE
Eddy Current are used for variety of purposes:
• Crack detection
• Material thickness measurements
• Coating thickness measurements
• Conductivity measurements for:
- Material identification
- Heat damage detection
- Case depth determination
- Heat treatment monitoring
ADVANTAGES
• Sensitive to small cracks and other defects
• Detects surface and near surface defects
• Inspection gives immediate results
• Equipment is very portable
• Method can be used for much more than flaw detection
• Minimum part preparation is required
• Test probe does not need to contact the part
• Inspects complex shapes and sizes of conductive materials
LIMITATIONS
• Only conductive materials can be inspected
• Surface must be accessible to the probe
• Skill and training required is more extensive than other techniques
• Surface finish and and roughness may interfere
• Reference standards needed for setup
• Depth of penetration is limited
• Flaws such as delaminations that lie parallel to the probe coil winding
and probe scan direction are undetectable
 APPLICATIONS

(i) Dead beat galvanometer

When current is passed through a galvanometer, the coil oscillates about its mean position before it comes to rest. To bring the coil to
rest immediately, the coil is wound on a metallic frame. Now, when the coil oscillates, eddy currents are set up in the metallic frame,
which opposes further oscillations of the coil. This inturn enables the coil to attain its equilibrium position almost instantly. Since the
oscillations of the coil die out instantaneously, the galvanometer is called dead beat galvanometer.

(ii) Induction furnace

In an induction furnace, high temperature is produced by generating eddy currents. The material to be melted is placed in a varying
magnetic field of high frequency. Hence a strong eddy current is developed inside the metal. Due to the heating effect of the current, the
metal melts.
(iii)Induction motors
Eddy currents are produced in a metallic cylinder called rotor, when it is placed in a
rotating magnetic field. The eddy current initially tries to decrease the relative
motion between the cylinder and the rotating magnetic field. As the magnetic field
continues to rotate, the metallic cylinder is set into rotation. These motors are used
in fans.
(iv) Electro magnetic brakes
A metallic drum is coupled to the wheels of a train. The drum rotates along with the
wheel when the train is in motion.When the brake is applied, a strong magnetic field
is developed and hence, eddy currents are produced in the drum which oppose the
motion of the drum. Hence, the train comes to rest.
• (v) Speedometer

In a speedometer, a magnet rotates according to the speed of the vehicle.