Giant Ac Electromagnets

[SaxonViolence]

Somewhere recently I came upon an article about the World's biggest DC Electromagnet.....

 

Which for me, kinda begged the question, where is the World's Largest AC Electromagnet?

 

Can someone clue me in on the basics of AC Electromagnets?

 

Do they actually attract metal? How?

 

What little that I can glean, Hysteresis is a major factor in AC Electromagnets.

 

Apart from Hysteresis, what effect does Cycle Frequency have on AC Electromagnets?

 

Any rather unexpected phenomena, when building very large AC Electromagnets?

 

Aren't Radio Waves a form of varying frequency or amplitude Electromagnetic Waves?

 

Thanks.

 

Saxon Violence

[maddog]

Somewhere recently I came upon an article about the World's biggest DC Electromagnet.....

Which for me, kinda begged the question, where is the World's Largest AC Electromagnet?

Can someone clue me in on the basics of AC Electromagnets?

Do they actually attract metal? How?

What little that I can glean, Hysteresis is a major factor in AC Electromagnets.

Apart from Hysteresis, what effect does Cycle Frequency have on AC Electromagnets?

Any rather unexpected phenomena, when building very large AC Electromagnets?

Aren't Radio Waves a form of varying frequency or amplitude Electromagnetic Waves?

Maybe could you provide a link to where you read that Saxon? I thought AC was more efficient at producing a magnetic field.

 

maddog

[Moontanman]

In the US an AC electromagnet should reverse it's field 60 times a second...

[SaxonViolence]

Sorry, I lost my original link.

 

Here's the Magnet, but it's a Video.

 

They remark that it's a DC Magnet about 3 minutes in.

 

http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/mediacenter/slideshows/hybrid/index.html

 

We use 60 Cycle Per Second in the US because if you go much below the 50 Cycles that the British prefer, you start to notice flickering in the lighting--at least, so I'm told.

 

Much above 60 Cycles Per Second and power losses due to Hysteresis become inconvenient--again, so I'm told.

 

60 CPS is a good compromise. {Yes, I know the current gentle custom is to say, "Hertz". I wasn't consulted about the change and don't accept it...)

 

However, if a Higher (or lower) Frequency would have some beneficial effect, Variable Frequency Drives are.

 

One could also set up a custom Generator to supply Oddball Frequencies.

 

That's how some folks get Three-Phase Power into a Home Workshop. They use Single-Phase Current to run a small Three-Phase Generator.

 

I think it's called a "Roto-Phase Converter".

 

{No, a Roto-Phase wouldn't change the Frequency, but you could set up a different Frequency Generator on the same General Principle...}

 

Saxon Violence

[belovelife]

would different photovotallic materials integrated into a ceramic medium add to the size of the magnetic field?

[belovelife]

epecially the material used in ifrared goggles, to transduce the heat into electricity?

[maddog]

In the US an AC electromagnet should reverse it's field 60 times a second...

Yes, though the residual magnetic field strength would stay relatively constant in magnitude, even though a flipping of direction. So yes, I suppose if induction were the goal then keeping the same orientation would be better.

 

maddog