The energy storage size of the inductor is

How does inductor size affect energy storage?

Different core materials can store different amounts of magnetic energy per volume, but within the same core material, inductor size is largely dictated by energy storage. The energy a inductor can store, in common units, is: J = ½ A 2 H where J is the energy in Joules, A the current thru the inductor in Amps, and H the inductance in Henrys.

How much energy can a inductor store in common units?

The energy a inductor can store, in common units, is: J = ½ A 2 H where J is the energy in Joules, A the current thru the inductor in Amps, and H the inductance in Henrys. Look at a family of inductors that all use the same core, and you will see that the maximum energy storage is about the same across the family.

How is the energy stored in an inductor calculated?

The energy stored in the magnetic field of an inductor can be written as E = 0.5 * L * I^2, where L is the inductance and I is the current flowing through the inductor.

How does an inductor store energy?

An inductor stores energy in its magnetic field. As the current through the inductor increases, it forces the magnetic lines of force to expand against their natural tendency to shorten. This expansion stores energy in the magnetic field, similar to how a rubber band stores energy when stretched.

Does size matter in power inductors?

Look at a family of inductors that all use the same core, and you will see that the maximum energy storage is about the same across the family. For example, here are the specs for the CoilCraft MSS6132 series of power inductors: Pick a few and compute their energy storage at the 10% drop saturation level. For example: So yes, size matters.

When does the energy stored in an inductor remain constant?

When the current remains constant, the energy stored in the magnetic field is also constant. The voltage across the inductance has dropped to zero, so the power p = vi is also zero.