Additional

Losses in Massive Copper Conductor

due to Eddy-Currents

G.J.Pavkov, pavkovg@eunet.yu

S.S.Milovancev, batamilo@ns.ns. ac.yu

Facultyof Engineering
Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

JP EIekrovojvodi~a
Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

Abstract: While measuring the resistive losses in the transformer

windings great difference between the measurement results of
additional losses was noticed due to skin-effect at the transformer

without box and the theoretical calculated results. In order to find

the reason for the phenomenon, measurements of resistive losses in
massive copper conductor were done in laboratory. Also, tests
were performed in inductive furnace for metal melting. The
conclusion is that the equivalent propagation depth value of the
power must be taken into account instead of the equivalent
propagation depth value of the electrical field. Also, the equivalent
propagation depth in cylindrical conductor has higher value than in
the event of the conductive plane.

When the equation (2) is used in case of high conductive

metallic environment and with the frequency of 50 Hz, the
first part in the bracket is negligible, because [1] of &rel ~ 1.
The equation in case of wave propagation through the infinite
plain metallic board is:

d213x
dz2

13x(z, t) = &

wave propagation

~EOX. e-lalz. e-Jlplz

. eJO
(4)

~x = EOX.e-l~lz,e-j.l~l.z

1. INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic

(3)

Its solution [1] is given by:

Keywords: Skin effect, Fields factor, additional losses, eddycurrents

1)

. pOCI) ~ =0
.
.
J (),1 x

The differential equation (3) has two characteristic

and wave equation

solutions

y,,. The negative solution is called the complex propagation

In case of propagation the plain sine wave through the
vacuum the electrical and magnetic field vectors define the
plane v perpendicular

on axis z (with ort ez) which lies in the

wave

direction

propagation

components

[1].

Vectors

have

factor.

Its real part [1] is the damped

factor u

and the

imaginary part is the phase factor ~:

the

Ex and HY which are shifted for 90 and have

the same time phases [1]. The following equation exists

Zo=EXHy=~~
Z. is scalar
impedance.

(1)

Zo=L20.~
and

called

the

environmental

The reciprocal value of cl is the equivalent propagation depth

of the electrical or magnetic field into the conductor.

2) Equation in case of wave propagation

infinitive plain metallic board

through

The
wave
propagation
through
the
environment is described by the Hehnholtzs
complex form

AE+

w2. &.pj.

AH+

(vacuum)

~E=O
P el 1
\

According to (4) on the depth 6 the rms values of the

electrical field decreases to l/e value comparing to the rtns
values EOXon the surface of the plain board.

conductive
equation in

(2)

3)
Impedance of high conductive environment and the
solution of the equation for electro-magnetic field
propagation
The correlation between rms values of electrical and
magnetic field in metallic environment has a complex form. It
is called the surface impedance [1, 2] and is given by

ar2-e. p-j ~H=O

P.1 J

E=~m(IJxn)

pel is the specific resistance of the conductive environment

E=&,.&o

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L.=Jj.f%~!pe,
=~,ne
1408

(6)

where n = ez is the ort vector perpendicular on the surface

with inside direction. The phase of the surface impedance is
45 and that defines the phase shift between electrical and
magnetic field. This means that the electromagnetic wave
bears the power [1,2] with rms values of active and reactive
power which are equal: IPI = /Q1. According to (4) and (6),
the solution of the equation for magnetic field propagation in
complex form is [1, 3]:

E,x . ~-la]z [1
e
j.

@=_
m

-1~1.~-?!

(7)

IzI
m

The energy propagation in case of a round conductor is

illustrated in fig. 1. The electrical field vector on the
conductor surface has two components, which together with
magnetic field vector, yield two Pointings vectors. The radial
electrical field component & with magnetic field vector ~
result in vector ET , which is perpendicular on v plane. The
physical essence of It is the surface density power that
flows fi-om the source to consumers in dielectric environment
around the conductor [3].
The axial electric field component

Et with vector ~

yeald the Pointings vector Iv

and determine

plane m This plane is tangentional

vector

Surface density power vector of EM wave

4)

= ~~x~

IV is perpendicular

the

to the outside surface and

on plane n with direction toward

the conductor [2]. As mentioned, using vector ~v the power,

that covers total internal losses, can be described.

The Pointings vector in complex form [1, 2] for the

surface density power vector of the electromagnetic wave in
case of infinite plain metallic board [1, 2] is: ~= ~X~*.
Based on equations (6) and (7), the rms value of surface
density power on any given depth z from the surface is

2)

Loss increase due to eddy-currents

In case of DC power the axial electric field component

propagates fi-om the surface to the center of a round
conductor without damping. Power loss has the resistant
character corresponding to RDC.The fact is that the active AC
power losses are higher than in case of DC power. In either
event the currents are equal. If the power is AC power, then
the axial electric field component Et has damping from the
surface to the center. The appearance of various electromotive forces inside the conductor produces the flow of eddy-

=ExH=[zmeJ:
gyk
(8)

~ =

l~mle: . I&

2e-2az= ~m~o,y
2e-i=

currents [3]. These eddy-currents produce additional

losses and this looks like increased resistance:
RF= R~c -+AR.

and according to (5) this eq, (8) is given by:

~=~m.I+oy2.eA:

According

(9)

5) Damping of field components

power in case of plain board

active

and the surface density

to (9) the surface density power has double

value of damping factor 2.Gt than in case of the field

components, eq. (4) and (7). This factor corresponds to the
two times less equivalent depth. By using the equations (5)
for the damping factor of field components and (9) for the
power, the equivalent propagation depth for copper can be
obtained in case of infinite plain metallic board:

Ar=;4=-

2. Ial
6CU= 9.4 mm

A=~pe,
r

2 poco

(lo)

A ~cu = 4.7 mm

11.POWER AND IMPEDANCE OF ROUND MASSIVE

CONDUCTOR
1) The main point of energy propagation
massive conductor

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Fig 1. Energy propagation

in case of a round

1409

Fields factor
account

k~ [4]

in case of a round conductor

takes

this

increased

resistance

into

In order to get the resistance

value, in case of AC voltage,

current through the conductor (200 A + 1200 A), the voltage

drop and the phase shift between them were measured. It was
noticed that the current was always late in relation to the
RF = R~c + AR
The situation

k~ = R~/ R~c
with the reactive

(11)
power

is similar,

Every

conductor has the internal inductance X. [1] that increases

for AX. The internal inductance, in case of a massive
conductor, length L, has the value:

x ~T=XO+AX
3)

(12)

Internal impedance of massive round conductor

The internal rms value of power losses in a conductor

are obtained by the following equation ( with z = O ) and (9)

voltage drop for the angle: (pX = 60.

The total rms value of the power S covers the internal
losses &.J~ and the reactive losses due to external AC
magnetic field around the conductor
~ = Ag.~

= Pm~ +J.(Q~T

+ Q~xT)

2) Active power and resistance calculated in case of AC

voltage
In order to calculate RF, it is necessary to get the
corresponding active power first. The fact is that the only
active power in the conductor is PmT and the resistance is
calculated as usual
PmT= Re{S}= Is

I COS(PX)

(17)
(18)

R,=pnwl!l
IV. CALCULATION
1)

(13)

The round surface of a conductor is ~. The real and

imaginary parts (13) present internal active and reactive

power losses. According to (6), arg( &NT) = 45 and the

rms values of the active and internal reactive power are the
same:
(14)

lP1~~l= lQm~\

The same is to be said for the rms values of the internal

impedance, resistance and internal inductance:

Sz m
z NT_
lNT=
2 L=RF+j
z.d

XNT

III

(15)

_N,
z

=RF.

(16)

RESULTS

k~ factor obtained by the power loss measurement

The factor kF has been defined according to (11) and

(18). Its value for the massive copper round conductor, on
which the measurements were done, is k~ =1.35. That is the
reason why in eq. (9) and (10), the equivalent propagation
depth Arc,

is being introduced,

2) kFfactor obtained by geometrical interpretation and

equivalent propagation depth
The chapter IV. 1 determines the kF factor, Value
k~ = 1.35 has been used for calculation of equivalent
propagation depth of field and power. Massive conductor has
a significant skin-effect, since the AC power propagates until

Arcu in the direction from the surface to the center. The

surface of this electrical active cross section is SF. In case of
DC current this surface is SDC.The ratio of these two surfaces
determines the Fields factor, in case of a massive round
conductor:

(l+j)
S~c = ndcU2/4

III. MASSIVE ROUND CONDUCTOR AS A LOAD FED

BY AC VOLTAGE SOURCE
Measurement
of resistance
in case of
1)
measurement of total rms value of power

DC

voltage

and

in case of AC

SF= n.dcu.Arcu

kF= S~c I SE = dc. / (4Arcu)

According

(19)

to ( 19) and kF =1.35 the value for AI is obtained

by:

voltage
Arcu = dcu /(4. k,)
Resistance of a conductor RDC, length L = 1.0 m and the
middle diameter dc. = 34.7 mm, was measured with the
Thomsons bridge and with DC voltage.

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ArcU = 6.42 mm

Taking (10) into the account one can conclude that:

(20)

Pel

A
rcu =

3CU =

poal

2.Arcu
(21)

A~cu = 6.5 mm

5CU=13.Omm

3) Surface impedance and internal impedance of a massive

round conductor

Correction R depends on the whole dimensions of

conductors and corresponding length flux line path [3]. In
case of the cylindrical
coil in the transformer
good
approximate formula [3] exists. According to (21) and (23)
the factor kF has been defined as:

kF=l+

mz0.2
9r

. 4
k )

According to RF and using the equations (6) and (15)

the values of the surface impedance
are determined:

and internal impedance

ycu
+R+-=dc,,. ~-

fJo w

r c,,

COII

Pel

.m

Zm=qiu=i=d.ei

(22)

It has been noticed that this value is times higher than in (6).
V. CONSEQUENCES
IN CASE OF USAGE
THESE CALCULATED EQUIVALENT
PROPAGATION DEPTHS
The calculation and the measured results show the
difference between the real conductors and infinite boards.
The purpose of ninfinite boardsf( is to make the explanation
of the skin-effect more simple. But, the calculation results
cannot be used in case of electrical
machines
and
transmission lines.
According to references [3,4] the k~
factor calculation in case of electrical machine windings and
magnetic tin is based on the so-called reduced propagation
depth of the field < = dcu / &u. In this case &-U= 9.2 mm
according to (10) for the plain board and dcU is the dimension
of insulated conductor or magnetic tin. This approach leads
to inaccuracy, since the calculation does not take into
account the whole value of additional power losses. Because
of that and according to (21) the reduced propagation depth
of the power Ar must be used. The Field% factor is
proportional

to< on potention 4:

&r=+

k,

=z(m)(R.

<r)

(23)

r Cu

A ~c. = 6.5 mm
This has been approved by the measuring and calculations.
To back up the above statement, the active losses in
transformers of nominal power 400 and 630 kVA, without
boxes, were measured. The calculation of losses agreed with
the measuring results completely just by using the equations
(21) and (23).
The furtaion Z(m) d~pmds [3] on the Kind mid shiip~
of windings in the machine and also, depends on the number
of insulated conductors m:
-toward the depth of a slot ( in case of rotating machines)
or
-into radial direction ( in case of transformers with a
cylindrical coil )

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In this case dc. and hcu are dimensions

of insulated
conductors into radial and axial direction. Variable m is the
number of insulated conductors into radial direction, and
HCOilis the whole height of coil with conductors, isolation and
with all interspaces.
Also, the measurements
were realized in case of
inductive furnace for metal melting 500 Hz, 2000 kW, and
2500 Hz, 250 kW in a local melting-house. Because of
significant skin-effect and enormous losses the inductive
furnace is water cooled. But, the cooling system could not
take away the whole heat and damages occured due to
overheating. Then the thermal losses were measured by
instruments. These losses exceeded the cooling power. Later
on, the calculation was realized using the equation (21 ) and
results were in complete accordance with the measurement.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
The measurements and analysis of the additional losses
in case of a round conductor, which is a very simple
consumer, show the fact that the equivalent propagation
power depth is two times less than the propagation depth of
the field component. The same measurements have confirmed
that the propagation power depth has to be used instead of
propagation
depth
of the
field
component.
Also,
measurements have evaluated that the propagation power
depth is not the same in case of a round conductor and a plain
board.
The accurate calculation of additional losses due to skineffect has a great importance in the case of transformers
because of total energy flow. In the case of rotating machines
this calculation concerns the worse cooling conditions and
apparent harmonics that produce heating in windings and in
magnetic tins.
Knowledge about the influence of the harmonics is
weak in case of transmission lines. The voltage and current of
the harmonics measurements must be done separately. The
power factor cos[p, which connects them, ic unknown.
Measurements show that the harmonics with the small
propagation depth have cos (p = 0.5. According
losses due to harmonics can be calculated.

to that, the

VII. REFERENCES
[3] dr. M. Liw.shitz: Die Elektrichen Machinen
berechnttng und emessung, Berlin, 1934.

[1] Zoya and d?. B.D. Popak! Introductory Electromagnetic,

Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River New Jersey, 1999.

Band 111

[4] A,B, Field: Eddy currents in large slot-wound conductors,

A, I.E. E., Asheville, 1905.

[2] L. Larrdau:Electromagnetics
of Continuous environment,
Zavod za izdavanje ud2benika, Beograd, 1961.

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES

in machines and

Gojko J. Pavkov was born in Vukovar,

presently the Republic of Croatia, on June
13, 1949. He received the B,SC. degree in
electrical engineering from University of
Belgrade, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1976.
His working experience included the limekiln
factory
in
Beotin
and
Electrodistribution Company in S.Mitrovica.
He used to work for the Melting house in
Novi Sad on the maintenance of middle
frequency inductive furnace for metal
melting. Since 1991 he has been working at
the Electrodistribution Company of Novi
Sad, His current interest is in the field of
energy propagation and losses
,.

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Slobodan S. Milovantev (M96) was born in

VrIac, Yugoslavia, in 1950. He received the
B.SC. and M.SC. degrees in electrical
engineering from University of Belgrade,
Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1973 and 1983,
respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in
electrical engineering from University of
Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, in 1996,
Since 1975, he has been working at the
University of Novi Sad, now as an Assistant
Professor, His current interests are in the
field of metrology and measurement
techniques for a variety of physical
quantities