High-resolution current sensor utilizing nanocrystalline alloy and magnetoelectric laminate composite

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Accurate current sensing is crucial for monitoring electrical facilities.
• Existing sensors may have limitations in dynamic range, sensitivity, or power requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a self-powered current sensor with enhanced sensitivity and a large dynamic range.
• To investigate the performance of a magnetoelectric laminate composite integrated with optimized nanocrystalline alloys for current sensing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a magnetostrictive/piezoelectric laminate composite sensor.
• Integration with optimized FeCuNbSiB nanocrystalline alloys to concentrate magnetic flux.
• Derivation of an analytical expression for current-voltage relationship using magnetic circuit principles.
• Experimental validation of sensor performance, including sensitivity, dynamic range, and frequency response.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrates significantly improved sensitivity and saturation due to optimized nanocrystalline alloys.
• An approximately linear relationship between measured current and induced voltage was observed.
• The sensor features a large dynamic range (0.01 A to 150 A) and can detect small current changes (0.01 A).
• A wide and flat operational frequency response from 1 Hz to 20 kHz was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The developed self-powered current sensor offers a large dynamic range, linear sensitivity, and wide bandwidth frequency response.
• The sensor shows great potential for practical applications in monitoring the condition of electrical facilities.
• The integration of optimized nanocrystalline alloys effectively enhances sensor performance.