An inductor includes a magnetic core composed of a magnetic material having variable permeability characteristics based on at least one of design parameters or operational parameters of the inductor that includes one or more air gaps. A coil is wound through the one or more air gaps and is configured to be excited by an electric current.

An electrical component includes a conductor having a plurality of conductor sections. The conductor sections are electrically short-circuited. The short circuit is at least partially eliminated when the temperature of the component exceeds a threshold or limit value. An electrical circuit including the component and a method for increasing the inductance of an electrical component having a conductor, are also provided.

A variable coupled inductor comprises a first core having a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, a first conducting-wire groove and a second conducting-wire groove on the top surface of the first core, wherein the second protrusion is disposed between the first protrusion and the third protrusion, wherein a first conducting wire is disposed in the first conducting-wire groove, and a second conducting wire is disposed in the second conducting-wire groove, wherein a second core, disposed over the first core, wherein a magnetic structure is integrally formed with the second core and protruded on the bottom surface of the second core, wherein the bottom surface of the magnetic structure is located over the top surface of the second protrusion.

A boost converter may include a first stage comprising a first dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core, and a second stage comprising a second dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core. The boost converter may also include control circuitry for controlling the first stage and the second stage to have a plurality of phases comprising a first phase wherein a first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and a second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in parallel between a power supply and a ground voltage and a second phase wherein the first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and the second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in series between the power supply and the ground voltage.

Differential-coil, high-voltage series reactors respond quickly and reliably to current surges in electrical power systems (such as surges caused by shorted or downed lines). The reactors prevent voltage collapse and eliminate the possibility of wide area blackouts (major metropolitan areas or entire states).

A fault current limiter (FCL) includes at least one magnetisable core member and at least one AC magnetomotive force source configured to generate a varying magnetic flux in at least a portion of the at least one magnetisable core member. At least one static magnetomotive force source is positioned to provide a magnetic circuit within at least part of the at least one magnetisable core member and the AC magnetomotive force source and the static magnetomotive force source are relatively positioned to be orthogonal to each other. Typically the static magnetomotive force source may be a permanent magnet and the AC magnetomotive force source configured to generate a varying magnetic flux in both of first and second spaced core members.

A fault current limiter, including: two inductors, a direct current circuit breaker, a shunt resistor, a first fixed resistor, and metal oxide arresters. The two inductors include wound superconducting wires. The inductors have identical number of windings and identical structure. Magnetic fluxes of the inductors are forward coupled, and the inductors are connected in parallel to form a superconducting inductor structure. The direct current circuit breaker and the superconducting inductor structure are connected in series to form a series branch. The shunt resistor is connected in parallel to the series branch. The first fixed resistor is connected in parallel to the direct current circuit breaker. The metal oxide arresters are two in number, and are connected to two ends of the inductors in parallel.

Techniques are provided for segmented windings of a coupled inductor within a DC-DC voltage converter or regulator. In an example, a coupled inductor circuit can include a first winding comprising a conductive coil having a central axis, and a second winding configured to magnetically couple with the first winding. The second winding can have a plurality of individual segments. Each individual segment can form a fraction of one turn of the second winding. Each segment can include a first conductor, a ground conductor, and a first switch to selectively couple, and selectively isolate, the first conductor and the ground conductor.

Differential-coil, high-voltage series reactors respond quickly and reliably to current surges in electrical power systems (such as surges caused by shorted or downed lines). The reactors prevent voltage collapse and eliminate the possibility of wide area blackouts (major metropolitan areas or entire states).

A method protects an electrical modular unit from overcurrent damage by virtue of an inductive component converting electrical energy into magnetic and thermal energy, in which a bypass bypasses the inductive component during regular operation of the modular unit and current flows via the bypass. In order to reduce current spikes in the event of a surge current without significantly enlarging the semiconductor switching the circuit inductance for the commutation circuit, it is proposed that the bypass is opened by an overcurrent flowing through the bypass which is above a current value that can be achieved during fault-free operation of the modular unit, with the result that more current is forced through the inductive component than residual current flows through the bypass.