An experimental study of the magnetic amplifier and the effects of supply frequency on performance

Up to the present, the use of magnetic amplifiers has largely been confined to problems associated with the amplification of small quantities of D.C. power. In these cases, the A.C. supply to the device normally operates at power frequencies. This paper shows that the time constant of the amplifier is limited by the supply frequency, and then goes on to discuss the possibility of reducing the response time by operating the device from a supply frequency of about 20 kc/s. Results show that there is an optimum core size for a given frequency and power output, and that this optimum becomes more critical as the supply frequency is increased. Finally, it is shown from experimental results that the magnetic amplifier has distinct possibilities in the field of audio frequency amplification.