Analysis of Wireless Power Supplies for

Industrial Automation Systems

K. O'Brien, G. Scheible*, H. Gueldner
Dresden University of Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering
01062 Dresden, Germany

*ABB Corporate Research

Wallstadter Str. 59
68526 Ladenburg, Germany
Abstract-Abundant sensors used in non-stationary,
maintenance-free industrial environments with high sensor
densities are preferably powered. by a wireless power system.
For most industrial applications this is possible with a magnetic Y
-..
supply principle, based on unconventional transformers with
large air-gaps. This paper presents an analytical description of
the magnetic components of a wireless power supply system
based on the magnetic coupling of multiple spatially separated
coils. The power transfer through the large air-gap transformer
is accurately predicted using a coupling model.

I. INTRODUCTION

Novel power supplies for use in applications such as figure I - Example automation application with a robot and a
robotics, automated production machines, and applications power supply using a large air-gap transformer:
with high insulation requirements where wired energy A Secondary coils (in wireless sensor modules)
B: Communication antenna(s)
transfer is not suitable have recently been proposed [I], [2], C Wireless VO module with field bus plug
[3],[4]. These power supplies together with suitable wireless . D Primary power.supplies
communication devices eliminate wires and connectors which E: Primary coil@)
were identified as one of the major causes of equipment
down-time. Alternatives, such as batteries, are not well suited 11. SYSTEM CHARACTERIZATION
for long-term, reliable operation in high volume applications
(e.g. > 10.000 units for >10 years). The coils can be represented as a system of loosely coupled
Unconventional transformers with large air-gaps are used to inductors with the self-inductances Lyy and L, of each. coil
supply energy to the load via magnetic fields over distances coupled with each other coil by kpr,y, kyxyy,and/or ksxAy(where
up to several meters and provide for the wireless supply of p represents a primary coil, s represents a secondary coil, and
power to devices such as sensors, coinmunication devices, or x and y represent the x' and y' coil). However, each time
actuators.' As an example, Figure 1 depicts the main that a coil is moved the entire set of coupling factors relating
transformer components being used. Multiple primary coils to that coil must be recalculated. The system becomes
consisting of one or several coils per plane form an extremely complicated as the number of elements is
orthogonal system. The secondary coils, each consisting of increased. The number of coupling factors Nk that must be
three coils each wound around one of the three axes of a calculated is given by
cube-shaped ferrite core are placed inside the box formed by
the primary coil(s). Both the primary and secondary
components operate in resonance, which allows power
transfer to the load to be optimized. where Cs is the number of secondary coils and Cp is the
In order to properly analyze the system, the coupling number of primary coils in the system.
between each individual primary and secondary must be Figure 2 shows a system with two primary coils and three
understood and described. Formulas describing the coupling secondary coils. Note that although each secondary shown in
between all possible coil combinations are presented in this Figure 2 is actually comprised of three coils wrapped around
paper, and a transformer equivalent circuit model is used to a ferrite core, these coils are 90 degrees apart spatially and
further explain the operation of the system. therefore are not coupled to each other in the ideal case.

' Patents pending

~

0-7803-7906-3/03/$17.00 02003 IEEE. 361

 The mutual inductance between opposite sides of a
rectangular coil (parallel conductors of the same length) is
given by [51 as

L
mutual

where l is the length of the conductor and d is the distance

between the parallel conductors. In this case the radius of the
wires can be neglected, as it is very small relative to d [51.
The mutual inductance of two conductors meeting at a right
angle is zero. For the purposes of this calculation, the wires
forming the primary coils are assumed to form an ideal
rectangular system.
Summing the self-inductance (given by (2)) of each of the
four wires and the mutual inductances (given by (3)) between
SecondarySide each of the possible wire pairs, the self-inductance of a
Rgure 2 -Coupling between primary and secondary coils rectangular coil can be described by
~ ~

Although prototypes show coupling between these three coils

of up to 0.6%. this does not cause significant problems in P
normal operation of. the system. These three coils allow the

1-
load to receive constant power regardless of the orientation of (4)
Lsev
the secondary with respect to the primary coil or coils. For
+ w)
the purpose of this analysis, coupling between coils on one
secondary will be neglected. The term “secondary coil” will
refer to one ferrite cube with one coil wrapped around each of
its axes.
1( I
2(1+ w ) .tq

J
where 1 and w are the lengths of the sides of the rectangle,
Figure 2 can be simplified by ignoring the coupling and N is the number of turns in the coil.
between secondary coils that are not located within a few
centimeters of each other as the coupling between cube Effects of flux concenrration due to the presence of a
shaped secondary coils separated spatially by a distance ferromagnetic material: Equation (4) provides a good
greater than the value of one side-length of the ferrite core approximation of the inductance of the primary coils (within
has been seen in preliminary tests and simulations to have a approximately 1.5%).‘While the secondary coils are also
negligible effect on the overall performance of the system. rectangular in shape, they are wrapped around a ferrite core.
The inherent high initial permeability of the core provides a
A. Calculation of Coil Selflnductances low reluctance path for the flux created by the primary coils,
All primary and all secondary coils are of rectangular thereby concentrating tbe flux lines within the core and
shape. Other coil shapes were discussed in 141. The self- increasing the density of the magnetic field. A concentration
inductance of a coil that is comprised of straight elements can of flux in the core (when the core material has ~ 1 will)
be described by the sum of the self-inductance of each increase the inductance of the coil wrapped around that core.
straight wire and the mutual inductances of all of the possible Equation (4) is multiplied by a flux concentration or
wire pairs. demagnetisation factor L), which accounts for this effect.
Starting with the differential form of the Biot-Savart Law, This factor is based on the permeability of the core material
[5] approximates the self-inductance of a straight round and on the geomevy of the core. Although the exact value of
conductor as D is extremely difficult to calculate, [61 shows that D for
prisms with two sides of equal length can be approximated
using the value of D for a cylinder. The demagnetisation
factors of cylinders are well known. Reference 171 shows that
S for cylinders having long: and short axes of equal length (a
good approximation of the ferrite cube used in this system)
where p is the radius and 1 is the length of the conductor. and a relative permeability in the range of a few thousands, D
is approximately equal to 3.

368
 The effective permeability of the core is then described by
P I as

where p is the true permeability of the core material and p’ is

the effective permeability of the core material.

E. Calculation of Mutual Inductances

The mutual inductance between coils in the system can be
found using the Neumann formula for mutual inductance

Figure 3 - Flux density Bp passing through the surface S2

hounded by the secondary coil
Alternatively, the mutual inductance, LP3. between one
primary and one secondary coil can be calculated by Integrating (7) over the surface of the secondary coil to find
- the flux linking the secondary and assuming that the field is
integrating the flux density B, created when current passes
uniform over the surface bounded by the secondary coil
through the primary coil over the surface S2 bounded by the
secondary coil (Figure 3). This method is made simpler
because the flux density at the secondary can be assumed Yps= D j Bp. (8)
constant over the small area bounded by the secondary coil. SS
The field density generated by a rectangular coil lying in
the y-z plane (where wires 1 and 2 are parallel to the z-axis where the subscripts p and s refer to the primary and to the
and wires 3 and 4 are parallel to the y-axis) at any point in the secondary coils, respectively, gives
system is shown in [4] to be
I
vps= 4 P 0 I BP I (9)

where As is the area encompassed by a secondary coil.

Flux linkage APTis defined as

A ps = NsYps (10)

where N s is the number of turns on the secondary

Finally, the .mutual inductance between the primary and

secondary coils is

Lps =-A P S
‘P

where L,...4are one half the lengths of each of the four sides where Iy is the current in the primary.
of the rectangle, N is the number of turns in the coil, I is the
current in the wire, r is the perpendicular distance between The mutual inductance between primary and secondary
the point at which the field is being calculated and the current coils is obviously highly dependcnt on the position of the
carrying wire, and 4 is the angle between the imaginary line secondary coil in question. The mutual inductance between
of length r connecting the field point with the wire and the x- one primary and one secondary coil is found by combining
axis. (E), (9). (IO) and (11) and simplifying

369
 secondary coil and the field intensity at the position on the
Lf +s1nm2 L2 axis of the primary coil that is closest to the actual position of
2
i
A 7
m
, Z m 2 m the secondary coil. The bolume in which this approximation
is accurate can be found using methods for finding the
volume of a certain field strength [41.
Substituting (14) and (15) into (i3) gives an approximation
p
Lpr = DN PN’ Ar O
(12) of the coupling factor.
Although the coupling factor kPs between the primary and
secondary coils ’ is of central importance; an accurate
representation of the system will also include coupling factors
between the primary coils, kpp, and between the secondary
coils, kAr
The mutual inductance between two primary coils can be
found using the Neumann Formula. Assuming that the
C. Calculation of coupling factors primary coils are square loops both of side length a, separated
by a distance don the same axis
The coupling factor kP.”between the primary and secondary
coils is defined as
LPs
(13)
d
k p s = Lpp Lss
where Lppand L,, are the self-inductances of the primary and IT
(16)
secondary coils and Lp, is the mutual inductance between the
primary and secondary coils.
+Jzx7-4xF
L J
Substituting (4) and (12) into (13) gives an expression for
the coupling factor between the primary and secondary coil The coupling factor between two primary coils can then be
which is obviously quite cumbersome. Some simplifications approximated by substituting (4) and (16) into (13).
can be made to make the equation easier to use. Primary coil systems generally consist of sets of coils
placed at 90 degrees of spatial separation. If the ideal case
D. Simplifications and approximations of inductance and (exactly 90 degrees of separation) is assumed, coupling
coupling factor calculorioris between coils must be calculated only between coils lying on
For primary coils of square shape equation (4) describing the same axis, as coils xparated by 90 degrees have zero
the self-inductance of rectangular coils can be simplified. The coupling between them.
inductance of a square coil where s is the length of one side Although flux density can normally be considered constant
of the coil is approximated by [5]as over the relatively small area bounded by the secondary coil,
this is not the case when two secondary coils are placed in
close proximity to each other. As the case of two secondary
L = 0.8sN
2[
In
t) 1
- -0.5240

If the secondary is assumed to be near to the axis of a

coils coming into close proximity is the main reason for
studying the coupling between them, this problem cannot be
neglected. A method of numerical integration of the
Neumann formula can also be used to find the coupling factor
between two secondary coils, taking into account the angle at
square primary coil, (12) can be approximated by
which the axes of each secondary coil intersects with the axis
of the other.
Lps DN,NpAs/104.
111. SYSTEM MODELLING
I fx\ L \ (15)
Now that Lpp, L, kpA,I:,, and kuy have been found, the
coils can be represented as a system of coupled inductors
with the self-inductances Lppand LsAof each coil coupled with
where L is the length of one side of the coil. each other coil by kps, kpxoy.and/or krw as shown in Figure 2.
The error in (I5) increases as the is moved In order to integrate the coupled inductors in a full system
further off axis. The error is proportional to the difference description and to allow for a system optimisation, an
between the field intensity at the actual position of the equivalent circuit was developed.

370
 A classic single-phase equivalent transformer model can be
used to represent the energy transfer between one primary 30
and one secondary coil in a wireless power system. R,=IOkR
25
A wireless power system with its inherent large air-gap is
RL=6kR
characterized by a small magnetizing inductance and large 20
leakage inductances. The core loss resistance, r,, can be Vd, RL=4kCl
neglected as the core losses are small enough to be 15
considered negligible for the core selected in this case. RL=2kR
The conventional transformer model can be simplified and 10
applied to the wireless power system by referring all values to R,=lkR
5
the secondary side of the transformer and replacing the
primary voltage, leakage inductance, and resistance with an 0
0 0.5m 1.h 1.5m 2 . h
ideal current source representing the.current flowing in the
Time (s)
primary coils. The equivalent circuit model extended by the
resonant capacitor, rectifier, dc-filter, and load, is shown in Figure 5 - Simulation results showing rectified secondary
Figure 4. voltage for a range of load values
Winding resistances can be calculated with conventional
equations using wire diameter, copper characteristics, number
of turns, and the dimensions of the system, taking into
account the skin and proximity effects.
Figure 5 shows simulation results using the model shown in
Figure 4 for several values of load resistance. Figure 6 shows
the current in the primary coil, the magnetic field at the
position of the secondary coil, and'the dc side voltage for a
load of 2kC. The simulation model and the practical results
confirm the fact that the power available to the load is highly
dependant on the coupling between the primary and
secondary coils. Figures 7 show the test set-up used in
obtaining Figure 6.
Only one set of primary coils was energized during this test
and the secondary was aligned along the same axis so that
voltage was induced on only one of the coils comprising the
secondary. For the multi-dimensional systems used in
practical set-ups, Figure 4 must be expanded into a multi-, Figure 6 - Primary terminal voltage (V,),,primary current(l,,).
winding transformer model. magnetic field intensity at secondary coil position (HJ,dc
voltage ( V d at Rr=2kn.

Figure 4 -Simplified equivalent transformer model where

h =mutual inductance
R, = secondary side winding resistance
h' =secondary side leakage inductance
C , = Secondary side resonant capacitance
C~E = dc-side capacitance
I, = Primary side current
a = Tums ratio (Nd").
RI& = h a d resistance

37 1
 Hrns:>21.43 Aln Hrms:>21.43 Aln
Hrns:21.43
Hrns:13.29 --
19.29
17.14
A/m
Aln
Hrmr:21.43
Hrms:19.29
--
19.29
17.14
R/n
Rln
Hrns:17.14 - 15.88 Alm Hrms:17.14 --
15.88 A h
Hrns:15.88
Hrns:12.86 --
12.86
18.71
A h
Aim
Hrl~s:15.88 12.86
Hrms:lZ.86 -
18.71
Rln
R/n
Hrns:18.71 - 8.57 Alm Hrns:18.71 --
8.57 Aln
Hrns: 8.57 - 6.43 Rlm Hrms: 8.57 6.43 Bin
Hrns: 6.43 -4.29 A/. Hrms: 6.43 --
4.29 Rln
Hrns: q.29 -2.14
Hrns: 2.14 - 1.94
R/m Hrns: t.29
Hrms: 2.14
2.14
1.94-
R/n
R/n
R/m
Hrms:< 1.94 film

Figure 8 - Field distribution around one set of primary coils 3m Figure 9 -Field dislributi,onaround one set of primary coils 3m
x 3m in area, separated by 2.8 m, and carrying 24A. The field x 3m in area, separated by 2.8 m, carrying 24A, and positioned
strength at the center of the system is 6.4 Alm.. to the left of a conducting surface. The field strength at the
center of the system is 3.4 Nm.

IV. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

REFERENCES
A practical industrial installation of such a system will
involve the interaction of the primary coils with metallic [I1 G. Scheible, I. Schutz. C. Apneseth, "Load Adaptive Medium
Frequency Resonant Power Supply." 28th Annual Conference of the
objects inherently present in a factory setting. The eddy
IEEE Imiustrial Electronics Sociely, IECON 2002, vol. I . pp. 282-
currents induced in these objects by the field created when 287.
current flows in the primary coils will act to dampen the field (21 1. Schutz, G. Scheible, C. Willmes, "Novel Wireless Power Supply
values within the operating volume of the system. This can System for Wireless Communication Devices in Industrial
drastically lower the field strength available to secondary Automation Systems," 281h Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial
Electronics Sociery, LECON 2W2. vol. 2. pp. 1358-1363.
coils in the affected area, thereby lowering the coupling value I31 C. Femindea. 0. Garcia, R. Prieto, 1.A. C o b s , J. Uceda, "Overview
between the primary and secondary coils and reducing the of Different Altemativss for the Contact-less Transmission of
power available to the load. Figures 8 and 9 show the effect Energy," 28th A n n u l Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics
of placing a conducting surface (which might represent steel- Society,IECON 2002, vol. 2, pp. 1318-1323.
I41 K.0Brien. G . Scheible, H. Gueldner. "Deriga of Large Air-Gap
reinforced floors, walls, or large pieces of machinery) to the Transformers for Wireless, Power Supplies," IEEE-PEW03
right of such a coil system. The field available to a secondary [SI F. Grover, "Inductance Calculations: Working Formulas and Tables."
coil located at the center of the system is reduced by nearly Dover Publications, Inc.. iNew York,1946
50% in this case. The losses created by placing the system in I61 D. Chen, E. Pardo, .A. Sanchez, "Demagnetizing Factors of
Rectangular Prism and Ellipsoids," IEEE Trans. on Magnetics, Vol.
a metal-rich environment can be modelled by adding 38, No. 4, July, 2002, pp. 1742-1752.
components representing those losses to the model shown in I71 R.Bazorth, "Ferromagnetism," Van Nostrand. Pnmceton, NI, 1968.
Figure 4. This method will be further detailed in future
publications.

V. CONCLUSIONS

A single-phase transformer model was used to describe

power transfer from primary to secondary through a large air-
gap transformer. The low value of mutual inductance
inherent to such a system was shown to be the dominant
factor in determining the amount of power transfer.
Equations describing the coupling between primary and
secondary component in such a system are highly complex,
and a method of approximation was found to reduce the
number of required calculations to a practically usable level.

312