# Flux Reflection Model of the Ferroresonant Circuit

Authors: Kruno Miličević; Ivan Flegar; Denis Pelin
Journal: Mathematical Problems in Engineering
 (2009)

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## Abstract

The paper presents a linear model of ferroresonant circuit with flux reflection. The proposed model—flux reflection model—derives from observations of typical flux waveforms of nonlinear coil during ferroresonant steady states. Simulation results of the flux reflection model are compared with simulation results of the usual nonlinear model as well as with measurements carried out on the
physical model of the ferroresonant circuit. The flux reflection model enables a novel comprehension
of the ferroresonant circuit behavior and simplifies the modeling of the nonlinear coil in the
ferroresonant circuit.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

A ferroresonant circuit is a circuit which comprises a linear capacitor in series with a nonlinear coil, driven by a sine-wave voltage. The ferroresonant circuit can exhibit several bifurcations and a chaotic steady  state [1–5]. Common research procedures comprise the measurements of ferroresonant circuit and the computer simulation of the mathematical model based on  state-equations of the circuit.The nonlinearity of the model caused by the nonlinear magnetization characteristic of the coil is the driving force on the route to the chaotic steady  state, which is marked by the bifurcations that are initiated by varying values of a circuit parameter. Complex models, that comprehend more nonlinear elements, are needed to match results of measurements and simulation completely [6, 7]. In order to obtain the complex behavior of the circuit, the nonlinear element that comprises the magnetization nonlinearity is only necessary. Therefore, the model comprises the magnetization nonlinearity iL(φ), implying the core saturation of the coil. The winding resistance of the coil is neglected, and the resistor, that represents the core losses of the coil, is assumed to be linear.  State equations of the ferroresonant circuit, Figure 1, areFigure 1
Ferroresonant circuit.(1)dφdt=uL=Ûsinωt-uC,duCdt=1C[1R(Ûsinωt-uC)+iL(φ)].The magnetization nonlinearityiL(φ) is odd-symmetric and monotonically increasing. It can be presented in various forms, for example, in a polynomial form [8, 9] or piecewise linear form [10, 11]. Thereby, the polynomial form is obtained often by an interpolation of a piecewise linear form. The magnetization nonlinearity is based on measurements carried out on a nonlinear coil regarding the above-mentioned assumptions made about properties of the coil. For example, one ought to rely on the results of standard measurements carried out on the nonlinear coil by the manufacturer [11, 12]. Because of a limited thermal endurance of the coil, measurements cannot be carried out by applying the sine-wave voltage for the full range of flux and voltage peak values which occur in some operation modes of ferroresonant circuit. However, the importance of this problem is often ignored by a simple extrapolation of magnetization nonlinearity obtained by measurements.Further problem of modeling based on standard measurements is that the parameters of model depend on the number of measurements, that is, on the number of measured values onU-I characteristic. Namely, a piecewise linear form of the magnetization nonlinearity, that is obtained by a small number of measurements, would not be as smooth as necessary; in the case of polynomial form of the magnetization nonlinearity, a small number of measurements could result with a significant interpolation error.In the paper a novel kind of modeling the magnetization characteristic of the coil in the ferroresonant circuit is presented. The modeling will be based on a characteristic behavior that nonlinear coil exhibits in a ferroresonant circuit. The behavior will be identified from the flux waveforms obtained by measurements and by computer simulation.The preliminary purpose of obtained novel model of the ferroresonant circuit is to enable a new comprehension of the circuit behavior and to simplify the modeling of nonlinear coil in the ferroresonant circuit by reducing the number of model parameters.


## 2. Measurements and Nonlinear Model

In order to notice the characteristic behavior of a coil in ferroresonant circuit, the ferroresonant steady  states are obtained by measurements carried out on a ferroresonant circuit that is realized in laboratory and by computer simulation carried out on a typical nonlinear model of the ferroresonant circuit.The ferroresonant circuit realized in the laboratory is composed of the capacitorC=20μF and the primary winding of the toroidal iron-cored two-windings transformer used as a nonlinear coil. The transformer was designed for the nominal apparent power of 200 VA and for the nominal primary voltage of 30 V. The core is strip-wounded, made of Ni-Fe alloy (Trafoperm N3). The autotransformer of 10 kVA nominal apparent power is used as a variable voltage source in all experiments.To simplify calculations, throughout the rest of the paper all the variables and parameters of the ferroresonant circuit are expressed in relation to reference quantities, that is, in a per-unit system:(2.1)φ̅=φωUref,u̅C=uCUref,ω̅=ωωref,i¯L=iLIref,U̅̂=ÛUref,Uref=31.2V,Iref=0.19A,ωref=314s-1.The simulation is carried out using a typical nonlinear model of ferroresonant circuit, with the polynomial form of magnetization nonlinearity:(2.2a)dφ¯dt=u¯L=Û¯sinω̅t-u¯C,du¯Cdt=1C¯[1R̅(Û¯sinω̅t-u¯C)+iL(φ¯)],ω¯=1,C¯=1,(2.2b)i¯L(φ¯)=f(φ¯)sign(φ¯),f(φ¯)=0.034·φ¯2+5.54·10-3·φ¯20+1.05·10-5·φ¯38,R¯=2.
The magnetization characteristic i¯L(φ¯) and the iron-core losses R̅ are derived from measured P-U and U-I characteristic of the nonlinear coil [12].During measurements and simulation the steady  states are obtained by varying the amplitudeU̅̂ of source voltage within the range:(2.3)0<U¯̂≤3.
The step of the amplitude variation is ΔU¯̂=0.05 in simulation, as well as in measurements. Simulation is carried out by using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method with 10000 integration steps per period, j=1,…,10000.Characteristic steady  states and bifurcations obtained by simulation and measurements are shown in Tables1 and 2, respectively. There is no significant disagreement between results of simulation and measurements with the exception of the pitchfork bifurcation and the period-four steady  state, which are not noticed in measurements.Table 1
Steady  states andbifurcations of the nonlinear model of ferroresonant circuit obtained by simulation.
IncreasingU¯̂DecreasingU¯̂Steady  states and bifurcations0<U¯̂<1.050<U¯̂<0.75Monoharmonic steady  stateU¯̂=1.05—Forward ferroresonant jump—U¯̂=0.75Reverse ferroresonant jump1.05≤U¯̂<1.70.75≤U¯̂<1.7Odd higher harmonic steady  stateU¯̂=1.7Pitchfork bifurcation1.7≤U¯̂<2.4Even and odd higher harmonic steady  stateU¯̂=2.4Period-doubling bifurcation2.4≤U¯̂<2.55Period-two steady  stateU¯̂=2.55Period-doubling bifurcation2.55≤U¯̂<2.65Period-four steady  state2.65<U¯̂<3Chaotic steady  stateTable 2
Steady  states andbifurcations of the ferroresonant circuit realized in the laboratory obtained by measurements.
IncreasingU¯̂DecreasingU¯̂Steady  states and bifurcations0<U¯̂<10<U¯̂<0.7Monoharmonic steady stateU¯̂=1—Forward ferroresonant jump—U¯̂=0.7Reverse ferroresonant jump1≤U¯̂<1.40.7≤U¯̂<1.4Odd higher harmonic steady stateU¯̂=1.4Pitchfork bifurcation1.7≤U¯̂<2.2Even and odd higher harmonic steady stateU¯̂=2.2Period-doubling bifurcation2.2≤U¯̂<2.6Period-two steady stateNot obtainedPeriod-doubling bifurcationPeriod-four steady state2.6<U¯̂<3Chaotic steady stateBy that means, Figure3 implies that the peak value of flux Φ̅̂ is in all polyharmonic steady states limited by the value Φ̅sat≈1.5, called here as a flux saturation value:(2.4)|φ|≤Φ̅sat.From simulation as well as measurements it is observed that during all steady states the slope of flux, immediately before and after the moment each time the flux reaches the peak valueΦ̅̂, changes the sign only, that is, holding the same absolute value nearly. As it is seen in Figure 2, for instance, at the moment t1, we assumeFigure 2
Typical ferroresonant steady state waveform of flux obtained by measurements (bold line) and simulation (thin line) for source voltage amplitudeU̅̂=1.1.Peak values of flux obtained by measurements (bold line) and by computer simulation (thin line): (a) by increasing the source voltage amplitudeU̅̂, (b) by decreasing the source voltage amplitude U̅̂.
(a)(b)(2.5)dφ¯dt|t1-0≈-dφ¯dt|t1+0.
This property is named here as a flux reflection.


## 3. Flux Reflection Model

Novel presentation of magnetization nonlinearity is based on observed limitation (2.4) and reflection (2.5) of flux values. Thereby, the magnetization characteristic for values |φ|<Φ̅sat is approximated by a linear inductance i̅L(φ̅)≈(1/L̅)φ̅. In a case of the polynomial form of magnetization nonlinearity (2.2b) the linear inductance L̅=5.4 is approximated as shown on Figure 4.(a) Polynomial form of the magnetization nonlinearity. (b) Zoomed linear part of the magnetization nonlinearity.By the reducing of the nonlinear magnetization characteristic to the linear inductanceL̅, the  state-equations of the ferroresonant circuit, (2.2a) and (2.2b), become linear between two flux reflections, that is, for flux values |φ|<Φ̅sat:(3.1)dφ̅dt=u̅L=Û̅sinω̅t-u̅C,du̅Cdt=1C̅[1R̅(Û̅sinω̅t-u̅C)+1L̅φ̅],ω̅=1,C̅=1,R̅=2,L̅=5.4.Thereby, the observed properties of a ferroresonant circuit—the limitation of flux values (2.4) and the flux reflection (2.5)—can be realized easily, using the following pseudocode:(3.2)FOReachintegrationstepjcalculatedφ̅dt|j+1asdefinedbyusediterativemethodIF|φ̅(j)|>Φ̅satTHENsetdφ̅dt|j+1tobeequalto-dφ̅dt|jENDIFENDFORThe proposed flux reflection model, defined by  state-equations (3.1) and pseudocode (3.2), could be comprehended as a piecewise linear model also. However, contrary to a typical piecewise linear model, this model comprises only one set of  state-equations, that is, the magnetization characteristic i̅L(φ̅) with only one linear segment. As it is shown on Figures 5 and 6 and determined by the pseudocode (3.2), the segment is limited by the saturation value Φ̅sat which triggers the alternation of flux slope sign and, at this way, causes the change of flux trend. For instance, the open arrows on Figure 6 indicate the increasing of flux value before the flux reflection and the decreasing of flux values after the flux reflection. Figures 5 and 6 show the flux reflection for the case φ̅≥Φ̅sat only. The depiction of the flux reflection for the case φ̅≤-Φ̅sat can be derived from the mirror symmetry of flux reflection model easily.Magnetization characteristici̅L(φ̅) of the flux reflection model and the alternation of flux slope sign shown on i̅R(u̅L) characteristic.
(a)(b)Figure 6
Part of the magnetization characteristic zoomed near the saturation valueΦ̅sat.


## 4. Comparison of the Flux Reflection Model and the Nonlinear Model

The flux reflection model can be considered as a model of the ferroresonant circuit only if the flux reflection model reveals a complex behavior of the ferroresonant circuit. Therefore, the steady states of the flux reflection model are obtained in the same way as for the ferroresonant circuit realized in laboratory and for the nonlinear model in Section2, that is, by varying the amplitude U¯̂ with the step of the amplitude variation ΔU¯̂=0.05 within a range:(4.1)0<U̅̂≤3.Between two flux reflections the flux reflection model is described by linear  state equations (3.1). Thus, these equations can be solved analytically. However, as it is shown in the appendix in detail, at the start of transient state, that is, in moment t=0, it is not possible to determine explicitly the ranges of parameter values and values of initial conditions at which a particular steady state would arise; it is only possible to solve (3.1) for a given set of parameter values and values of initial conditions.In the paper the steady states solutions are obtained in the same way as for the nonlinear model in Section2, that is, by simulation that is carried out numerically, using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method with 10000 integration steps per period, j=1,…,10000.The route to the chaotic steady state with bifurcations and corresponding steady states is obtained by varying the source voltage amplitudeU¯̂, (3.1), as shown on Table 3. Figure 7 shows the flux waveforms corresponding to each of steady states of the flux reflection model shown in Table 3.Table 3
Steady states andbifurcations of the flux reflection model of ferroresonant circuit.
IncreasingU¯̂DecreasingU¯̂Steady states and bifurcations0<U¯̂<1.150<U¯̂<0.8Monoharmonic steady state, Figure7(a)U¯̂=1.15—Forward ferroresonant jump—U¯̂=0.8Reverse ferroresonant jump1.15≤U¯̂<1.70.8≤U¯̂<1.7Odd higher harmonic steady state, Figure7(b)U¯̂=1.7Pitchfork bifurcation1.7≤U¯̂<2.25Even and odd higher harmonic steady state, Figure7(c)Not obtainedPeriod-doubling bifurcationPeriod-two steady statePeriod-doubling bifurcationPeriod-four steady state2.25≤U¯̂≤3Chaotic steady state, Figure7(d)Flux waveforms of the flux reflection model: (a) monoharmonic steady state, (b) odd higher harmonic steady state, (c) even and odd higher harmonic steady state, and (d) chaotic steady state.
(a)
U¯̂=0.7(b)
U¯̂=1.3(c)
U¯̂=2(d)
U¯̂=2.5Influence of saturation valueΦsat and linear inductance L on the initiation of (a) forward ferroresonant jump, (b) reverse ferroresonant jump, (c) pitchfork bifurcation, and (d) chaotic steady state.
(a)(b)(c)(d)The results of simulation based on the nonlinear model and results of measurements, shown on Tables1 and 2, differ from results of simulation based on the flux reflection model shown on Table 3. For instance, the period-two steady state as well as period-four steady state and corresponding period-doubling bifurcations, are not obtained by simulation based on flux reflection model. The reason for this could be the approximation of the maximum value of flux by a constant saturation value Φ̅sat. Namely, on Figure 3 during the polyharmonic steady states the maximum value of flux is constant only nearly, that is, it is not equal to the chosen saturation value (Φ̅sat=1.5).The main shortcoming of the flux reflection model is the inherent limitation of inductive component of the coil currenti̅L(4.2)|i̅L(t)|≤|i̅L[φ̅(t1+0)]|≈|i̅L(Φ̅sat)|=|1L̅Φ̅sat|
which does not exist in the actual ferroresonant circuit.In spite of that, the proposed model reveals a complex steady state behavior of the ferroresonant circuit. Besides of a new comprehension of the circuit behavior, the flux reflection model enables a simple modeling of the nonlinear coil. It is sufficient to carry out the simple measurements to determine the value of linear inductanceL and the saturation value Φsat.


## 5. Additional Simulation

The additional simulation is carried out in order to investigate the sensitivity of flux reflection model on the value of linear inductanceL and on the saturation value Φsat. The step of the source voltage amplitude variation is ΔU̅̂=0.05. Simulation is carried out by using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method with 10000 integration steps per period.Figure8 shows results of simulation. For easier visualisation the diagrams are constructed using gray scaled squares where different shades of gray are employed to represent values of source voltage amplitude U̅̂ at which the particular bifurcation and steady state, respectively, has occurred. For instance, the bottom left square on Figure 8(c) () indicates that the pitchfork bifurcation for the parameter values Φ̅sat=1.4,L̅=4, occur at the source voltage amplitude U̅̂=1.55.The results of simulation reveal that the flux reflection model is more sensitive to the variation of the saturation valueΦsat, than to the value of linear inductance L. For instance, for the saturation value Φ̅sat=1.4 and linear inductance values L̅=4,5,6, the reverse ferroresonant jump occurs at the source voltage amplitude values U̅̂=0.85 () and U̅̂=0.90 (), as it is presented by middle row on Figure 8(b). For the linear inductance value L̅=5  and the saturation values Φ̅sat=1.4;1.5;1.6, the reverse ferroresonant jump occurs for a wider range of source voltage amplitude values, U̅̂=0.75 () and U̅̂=0.90 (), as it is presented by middle column on Figure 8(b).Therefore, it is more important to know the saturation valueΦsatprecisely than the value of linear inductance L.


## 6. Conclusions

The flux reflection model preserves the basic properties of the magnetization characteristic: linearity and saturation. Despite the noticed shortcomings, the flux reflection model reveals a complex steady state behavior characteristic for the ferroresonant circuit. It enables a new comprehension of the behavior of the ferroresonant circuit and simplifies the modeling of the nonlinear coil in the ferroresonant circuit.Future work will address the simplification of the identification of parameters of a flux reflection model in order to avoid the identification by using the waveforms of flux values during ferroresonant steady states. Namely, in a flux reflection model a coil is defined by a linear inductance value and by a saturation value, which could be determined by standard measurements experimentally or by number of windings and by core parameters of coil analytically.Furthermore, in order to expand the purpose of the model from the presented new comprehension of the circuit behavior to a wide application of the model, it will be necessary to identify advantages and disadvantages of the flux reflection model precisely by a more detailed comparison with usual models of ferroresonant circuit.



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*Source: 693081-2009-08-20.xml*