Standardization of Core and Component Characterization at the Advanced Magnetics for Power and Energy Development Laboratory

Magnetic core and component characterization presents technical challenges, particularly with a focus on achieving higher frequency and voltage operation with advances in power electronics converters due to wide bandgap semiconductors. Accurate characterization plays a critical role in benchmarking the performance of existing core materials and construction for various component designs. In addition, characterization of fabricated components with application relevant excitation is critical for accurate assessment of technical figures of merit. Standardization of core and component characterization plays a foundational role in benchmarking and quantifying performance improvement of new magnetic materials, core constructions, and component designs. In this article, we discuss existing standards relevant for magnetic core characterization and several new standard development activities currently underway relevant for medium frequency and power applications. We also discuss the application of relevant measurements to selected magnetic core materials and components currently active within the Advanced Magnetics for Power and Energy Development (AMPED) Consortium. Example current transformer components are designed and tested as an example of standardized testing that is currently underway, to be expanded in the future to also include inductors and transformers amongst others.