Inductors, as you may know, are passive two-terminal electrical components made up of an insulated wire wound into a coil around a core. In the industry, various types of inductors are used. Each of these types has its own set of uses and applications. In this article, we will look at various types of inductors in full depth. 

Inductors, as one of the basic passive components, play an important role in electronics applications ranging from starting engines to delivering power to your home.

Inductor Working Principle

An inductor is a type of electrical device that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field. It is made by winding the wire around the core. Ceramic, iron, or air are used to make the cores. The core can be either toroidal or E-shaped. 

The magnetic field around the conductor is created by the coil carrying the electric current. When the core is placed between the coils, the intensity of the magnetic field increases. The low reluctance path to the magnetic flux is supplied by the core.

The magnetic field induces EMF in the coil, which causes current to flow. And, according to Lenz's law, the causes are always in opposition to the effects. The current is the cause in this case, and it is induced by the voltage. As a result, the EMF opposes the change in current that causes the magnetic field to change. The current that decreases due to inductance is referred to as inductive reactance. The inductive reactance increases as the number of coil turns increases.

Inductor construction

An inductor is typically made up of a coil of conducting material, typically insulated copper wire, wrapped around a core made of plastic (for an air-core inductor) or ferromagnetic material (for a "iron core" inductor). The ferromagnetic core's high permeability increases the magnetic field and confines it close to the inductor, increasing the inductance. 

An inductor's inductance is highly dependent on various of factors, including the number of turns of wire, the spacing between the turns, the number of layers of turns, the type of core materials, magnetic permeability, size, shape, and so on.

Different Types of Inductors

-Based On Core Material

  • Ferrite Core Inductor
  • Laminated Steel Core Inductor
  • Iron Powder Core Inductor
  • Ceramic Core Inductor
  • Air Core Inductor
  • Iron Core Inductor

-Based On Core Design

  • Toroidal Core Inductor
  • Bobbin Core Inductor

-Based on Their Usage

  • Radio-Frequency RF Inductor
  • Chokes
  • Variable Inductor
  • Colour ring inductor
  • Shielded Surface Mount Inductor
  • Wireless Charging coils
  • Multi-Layer Inductor
  • Thin Film Inductor
  • Molded Inductor
  • Coupled Inductor
  • Power Inductor

Based on the specific materials, core design, and applications, there are numerous types of inductors available. Each has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when tailoring to the specific application in mind.

Inductor Application

Inductors are used in a wide area of applications that are as follows:

  • Tuning Circuits
  • Inductive Sensors
  • Energy Storage Devices
  • Induction Motors
  • Transformers
  • Inductive Filters
  • Chokes
  • Ferrite Beads
  • Relays

Conclusion

As can be seen, there are several ways to categorise the various types of inductors. Each has advantages, and it is thus necessary to consider the various options available when selecting an inductor for a specific application. Now that you've learned about the various types of inductors, please share your thoughts in the comments section. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the article. Is there anything else we can do for you?