Important factors
If the lenz tricking process I proposed earlier turns out to be what is happening, the type of material is only one fifth of the equation. The second is the layout of the core and coil to the magnets. The third is the magnetic absorbing potential of the core (as determined by permeability and mass). The fourth is the size of the magnetic field coming from the rotor magnets. And last, the fifth is the speed of the magnets as they approach and pass the coil/core. If any one of these five are out of tolerance the lenz trick wont work. Make sure that you do not accidentally rule one out. IE: don't determine a core material wont work, when the mass of the core material might have been what was causing the trick to not work.
To dive deeper...
(note: this is expanding on the lenz trick theory)
Parameter one, type of core material
The type of core is important because you need a core with enough magnetic susceptibility to get the magnetic field from the rotor magnet to jump past the copper coil on approach. This allows the magnet to approach the coil without triggering lenz resistance. Mu-metal and some steels seem to work while ferrite doesn't. Knowing this we may be able to determine a permeability or susceptibility tolerance. Does anyone know of a good source for the magnetic susceptibility numbers for various materials?
Parameter two, coil/core design
This is also a critical part of a lenz tricking system because the design must encourage the gap jump upon approach. If the core is not in the correct position in relation to the coil, even if you have the correct core material, you will not get the field to jump the coil and thus will experience lenz drag. It is noted that the farther the core sticks out from the coil the easier it is to make the jump. However, this sacrifices the efficiency of the coil and thus the middle ground must be determined. Another thing that may help would be to decrease the distance that the core extrudes past the coil, but flatten the tip out more, so the core is shaped more like a bobbin than a bar. This may encourage a gap jump while allowing us to keep the coil more close to the magnet. This design idea needs testing.
Parameter three, magnetic absorbing potential of the core
There is probably a better word for this, but it represents how much magnetic field can be absorbed by the cor before it gets saturated. This potential determines the required speed of the rotor magnet. If the absorbing potential is small, the core will saturate quickly and there will be little time for the magnet to reach TDC. If the mass of the core is larger (thus the absorbing potential is increased) the core will take longer to hit saturation and thus allow the rotor magnet more time to reach tdc. Remember, this theory assumes that if the magnet is at or near TDC when the core saturates, the magnetic field will now return to the copper coil, and thus push against the rotor magnet, BUT the magnet will be on its way away form the coil, and thus will be 'pushed' into acceleration. (I think this is what Rod is experiencing!) Anyways, the bigger the mass of the core = the bigger the absorbing potential = the more time you have until the core saturates = the slower (less rpm) you need to still achieve the lenz trick.
Parameter four, the size of the magnetic field coming from the rotor magnets.
This is critical because it determines the distance that the magnet must travel from 'gap jump' to tdc. The larger the magnetic field, the larger the distance needed to travel (which means a faster rpm is required, or a larger absorbing potential in the core). The smaller the field, the less distance is required, thus less rpm and/or a smaller core required.
Parameter five, the speed of the magnet as it approaches/passes the coil.
This is the last variable in the lenz trick theory. The speed of the magnet is determined by RPM times circumference of the rotor. It requires a sweet spot that is determined by all of the other variables. The magnetic field size related to the coil/core design related to coil absorbing potential of core determine the time required to get from approach to tdc. By using this time and your rotor circumference you will be able to determine the required RPM to get lenz tricking to actually accelerate and propel your generator!
I start a math cram course at school this week (trying to skip three semesters of math in a week, wish me luck!) So I might not be to involved but I will be lurking around here reading that is for sure! You guys are doing great work! Keep it up!
If the lenz tricking process I proposed earlier turns out to be what is happening, the type of material is only one fifth of the equation. The second is the layout of the core and coil to the magnets. The third is the magnetic absorbing potential of the core (as determined by permeability and mass). The fourth is the size of the magnetic field coming from the rotor magnets. And last, the fifth is the speed of the magnets as they approach and pass the coil/core. If any one of these five are out of tolerance the lenz trick wont work. Make sure that you do not accidentally rule one out. IE: don't determine a core material wont work, when the mass of the core material might have been what was causing the trick to not work.
To dive deeper...
(note: this is expanding on the lenz trick theory)
Parameter one, type of core material
The type of core is important because you need a core with enough magnetic susceptibility to get the magnetic field from the rotor magnet to jump past the copper coil on approach. This allows the magnet to approach the coil without triggering lenz resistance. Mu-metal and some steels seem to work while ferrite doesn't. Knowing this we may be able to determine a permeability or susceptibility tolerance. Does anyone know of a good source for the magnetic susceptibility numbers for various materials?
Parameter two, coil/core design
This is also a critical part of a lenz tricking system because the design must encourage the gap jump upon approach. If the core is not in the correct position in relation to the coil, even if you have the correct core material, you will not get the field to jump the coil and thus will experience lenz drag. It is noted that the farther the core sticks out from the coil the easier it is to make the jump. However, this sacrifices the efficiency of the coil and thus the middle ground must be determined. Another thing that may help would be to decrease the distance that the core extrudes past the coil, but flatten the tip out more, so the core is shaped more like a bobbin than a bar. This may encourage a gap jump while allowing us to keep the coil more close to the magnet. This design idea needs testing.
Parameter three, magnetic absorbing potential of the core
There is probably a better word for this, but it represents how much magnetic field can be absorbed by the cor before it gets saturated. This potential determines the required speed of the rotor magnet. If the absorbing potential is small, the core will saturate quickly and there will be little time for the magnet to reach TDC. If the mass of the core is larger (thus the absorbing potential is increased) the core will take longer to hit saturation and thus allow the rotor magnet more time to reach tdc. Remember, this theory assumes that if the magnet is at or near TDC when the core saturates, the magnetic field will now return to the copper coil, and thus push against the rotor magnet, BUT the magnet will be on its way away form the coil, and thus will be 'pushed' into acceleration. (I think this is what Rod is experiencing!) Anyways, the bigger the mass of the core = the bigger the absorbing potential = the more time you have until the core saturates = the slower (less rpm) you need to still achieve the lenz trick.
Parameter four, the size of the magnetic field coming from the rotor magnets.
This is critical because it determines the distance that the magnet must travel from 'gap jump' to tdc. The larger the magnetic field, the larger the distance needed to travel (which means a faster rpm is required, or a larger absorbing potential in the core). The smaller the field, the less distance is required, thus less rpm and/or a smaller core required.
Parameter five, the speed of the magnet as it approaches/passes the coil.
This is the last variable in the lenz trick theory. The speed of the magnet is determined by RPM times circumference of the rotor. It requires a sweet spot that is determined by all of the other variables. The magnetic field size related to the coil/core design related to coil absorbing potential of core determine the time required to get from approach to tdc. By using this time and your rotor circumference you will be able to determine the required RPM to get lenz tricking to actually accelerate and propel your generator!
I start a math cram course at school this week (trying to skip three semesters of math in a week, wish me luck!) So I might not be to involved but I will be lurking around here reading that is for sure! You guys are doing great work! Keep it up!
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