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Primary Coil Topologies Part 2/2



Hello Coilers,
        Here is the second part relating to tesla coil primary geometries.

Tesla Primary Coil Simulation - Mark S. Rzeszotarski, Ph.D. - 3/15/96

	In this posting, the results of a computer simulation of three primary coil
geometries are explored.  The parameter of interest is K, the coupling
coefficient between the primary and secondary.  A companion posting provides
insight into how the primary bathes the secondary.
                                                                       
  Flat Spiral Primary Coil Geometry                                    
  Primary coil inside diameter (inches)=      12.00                    
  Primary coil outside diameter (inches)=      25.50                   
  Number of primary coil turns =     9                                 
  Wire diameter (inches)=      .3750                                   
  Solenoidal secondary diameter (inches)=      8.00                    
  Secondary height (inches)=      26.25                                
  Number of secondary coil turns =  860                                
  Secondary coil wire diameter (inches)=      .0285                    
  Primary coil inductance in microhenries:           48.01             
  Secondary coil inductance in microhenries:        39720.50           
  Secondary coil capacitance in picofarads:     13.08                  
                                                                       
  Position is secondary coil bottom turn position in inches            
  above bottom turn of primary coil                                    
  M = mutual inductance in microhenries                                
  K = coupling coefficient                                             
            Position           M                K                      
               .00          319.28            .231                     
              1.00          276.84            .200                     
              2.00          237.45            .172                     
              3.00          202.73            .147                     
              4.00          172.99            .125                     
              5.00          147.86            .107                     
              6.00          126.77            .092                     
              7.00          109.12            .079                     
              8.00           94.34            .068                     
                                                                       
  Saucer-Shaped Spiral Primary Coil Geometry                           
  Primary coil inside diameter (inches)=      12.00                    
  Primary coil outside diameter (inches)=      25.50                   
  Number of primary coil turns =     9                                 
  Last turn elevation in inches =       4.75                           
  Wire diameter (inches)=      .3750                                   
  Solenoidal secondary diameter (inches)=      8.00                    
  Secondary height (inches)=      26.25                                
  Number of secondary coil turns =  860                                
  Secondary coil wire diameter (inches)=      .0285                    
  Primary coil inductance in microhenries:           51.79             
  Secondary coil inductance in microhenries:        39720.50           
  Secondary coil capacitance in picofarads:     13.08                  
                                                                       
  Position is secondary coil bottom turn position in inches            
  above bottom turn of primary coil                                    
  M = mutual inductance in microhenries                                
  K = coupling coefficient                                             
            Position           M                K                      
               .00          388.29            .271                     
              1.00          347.99            .243                     
              2.00          307.43            .214                     
              3.00          268.97            .188                     
              4.00          233.89            .163                     
              5.00          202.68            .141                     
              6.00          175.35            .122                     
              7.00          151.70            .106                     
              8.00          131.37            .092                     
                                                                       
  Solenoidal Primary Coil Geometry                                     
  Primary coil diameter (inches)=      18.75                    
  Number of primary coil turns =     9                                 
  Last turn elevation in inches =       6.75                           
  Wire diameter (inches)=      .3750                                   
  Solenoidal secondary diameter (inches)=      8.00                    
  Secondary height (inches)=      26.25                                
  Number of secondary coil turns =  860                                
  Secondary coil wire diameter (inches)=      .0285                    
  Primary coil inductance in microhenries:           49.64             
  Secondary coil inductance in microhenries:        39754.23           
  Secondary coil capacitance in picofarads:     13.08                  
                                                                       
  Position is secondary coil bottom turn position in inches            
  above bottom turn of primary coil                                    
  M = mutual inductance in microhenries                                
  K = coupling coefficient                                             
            Position           M                K                      
               .00          299.51            .213                     
              1.00          278.66            .198                     
              2.00          256.01            .182                     
              3.00          232.21            .165                     
              4.00          208.02            .148                     
              5.00          184.23            .131                     
              6.00          161.58            .115                     
              7.00          140.65            .100                     
              8.00          121.82            .087                     



		Coupling Coefficient K Versus Secondary Coil Position
          -
      .24 | -                                                           
          +                                                             
          x   -                                                         
          | *                                                           
      .19 |     -                                                       
          |   *                                                         
          |     x -                                                     
          |     + x                                                     
          |         -                                                   
      .13 |       + x -                                                 
          |           x                                                 
          |         +   *                                               
          |           +   *                                             
          |             +                                               
      .06 |               +                                             
          |                                                             
          |                                                             
          |                                                             
          |                                                             
      .00 |                                                             
          +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-
          0         5        10        15        20        25        30 

 +=flat pancake,   -=saucer,   x=solenoid,   *=overlapping data
 Y-axis = Coupling coefficient (K)
 X-axis = distance in inches from bottom turn of secondary coil
          to bottom turn of primary coil

	The solenoidal coil diameter was selected so that the primary coil
inductance was approximately equal to that of a flat spiral, using the same
number of turns, same wire size and same wire spacing.
Most people who use solenoidal primaries use a smaller diameter than this,
which will increase coupling somewhat (often, too much).
        The mutual inductance M is computed using the integration formula of
Neumann, as described in Grover's text on inductance.  The formula for
inductance for a saucer is based on an average between the inductance of a
flat spiral and a solenoid, using appropriate geometric factors to account
for the shape.
	Conventional tesla coils use coupling coefficients between .05 and .20 or
so.  Some of you high power folks use even higher K values, especially if
you've got one or more of those high efficiency pulse discharge capacitors.
I think Richard Hull's old Nemesis coil used a K=0.23 or so.  
        I am planning on a K=.18-.20, which implies positioning the
secondary coil about 1-2 inches above the primary, for a flat spiral geometry.  
        Note that the saucer geometry is less critical with respect to
position.  The inverted cone also provides higher coupling than a flat
spiral, which is not unexpected.  However, the gain is small for a large
diameter coil like this.  Other considerations like strike distances may
also impact your choice of geometries.  For smaller diameter coils, where
the total secondary inductance is much smaller, an inverted cone or
solenoidal geometry becomes more useful if critical coupling is to be attained.

Comments?
Regards,
Mark S. Rzeszotarski, Ph.D.