Design Fluxgate Magnetometer (Fiuxgate Sensor)

• Main Author: REATH, REATH BANAK
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2009
• Subjects: TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/7722/1/2009%20-%20Design%20fluxgate%20magnetometer%20%28FLUXGATE%20SENSOR%29.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/7722/

Fluxgate magnetometers have been used by robotic space probes to analyze, map and monitor the magnetic fields of the earth and other planets. They are also used in geological prospecting, aerospace navigation, underwater navigation, land navigation and submarine detection. The objective of this project is to build fluxgate sensor for measuring a magnetic field, The flux gate sensor has two ferromagnetic core, a primary, electrically conducting coil arranged around the core for periodical magnetization of the core into magnetic saturation by an alternating electric current through the primary coil, and a secondary, electrically conducting coil arranged around two ferromagnetic core. The Methodology of the project has been carry out with precise decision in order to find a way to reduce the size, power consumption and cost, hence the author use low saturation flux density materials. The design and testing of a fluxgate sensor, which is totally embedded in printed circuit board, has been presented. The sensor is suitable for sensing currents in the printed circuit board traces. The sensitivity has been measured at 150 m VI A for 50 kHz excitation. The power dissipation has been measured at approximately 1.44 W for a sinusoidal excitation. The power dissipation can almost certainly be reduced by using pulse excitation, or perhaps by using a saturable inductor in the excitation circuit. It is also possible to improve the sensitivity and reduce the power consumption by use of an improved magnetic material. In particular a material with lower saturation flux density and higher permeability should be possible. Future work will focus on further characterization of the sensor in terms of bandwidth, noise level, and minimum current detection level.