Magnetic voltage regulator using current mode control

The magnetic regulator circuit described herein utilizes saturable reactors as a means for controlling the output current and voltage in an electrical power converter. The operational characteristics of this type of regulator are very similar to the functional behaviors of "switch-mode" regulators. The basic regulation scheme is illustrated in Figure 2. An AC squarewave signal is rectified and then applied to an LC averaging circuit. The DC voltage which appears at the output "Eo" can be modified by varying the average voltage applied to the LC network. This average can be changed by applying a bias current to the control winding of the saturable reactor (SR). The control range, the circuit gain as well as other operating perimeters are based to a large extent on the core material which is used for designing and building the saturable reactors. The circuit design described hereunder is intended to provide guide lines for selecting and designing saturable reactors which can be used in voltage and current regulators. The most significant advantages of using the magnetic regulator circuits presented hereunder is their affect on three important operational charactersitics. First the converter will be very efficient, second it offers quiet operation (EMI) and third its ouput regulation and stability is quite exceptional. Because of these unusual operational features, the magnetic voltage regulator is presented as an alternative to linear and semi-conductor switching regulators.