Skin effect-skin depth-good conductors

[Poly Vas]

I am desperate with an assignment and i would be grateful if someone could answer the following question.
I read about skin effect and skin depth and i found the following one.
"The skin effect depends upon the nature of material used for the conductor diameter of the wire, frequency, shape
of the wire. Skin depth varies as the inverse square root of the conductivity. This means that better conductors
have a reduced skin depth."

As i know ac frequences provokes skin depth . Higher frequecnies means smaller skin depth and high Rac Resistance and high losses . I cannot undestand why a ''good conductor'' has a reduced skin depth. I thought that good conductor means bigger skin depth, small resistance Rac and small losses.

 

[mfb]

Qualitatively: A good conductor can have the same current in a smaller area.
The higher conductivity value is more important than the reduced skin depth (just the square root of conductivity), so you still get a smaller resistance from better conductors.

 

[Poly Vas]

Thanks a lot for the reply. Last question. I am searching for methods to limit the skin effect in electrical conductors but I don't have electrical backround( I am a civil engineer) could you please tell me some methods to limit the skin effect?

 

[mfb]

The wikipedia article discusses some approaches. In general, split the current over multiple wires or wire-like things. Get the return lines close together, if reasonable.

 

[alphy]

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out for help with your assignment. I can provide you with a response to the content you have shared about skin effect and skin depth.

Firstly, skin effect refers to the phenomenon where alternating current (AC) tends to flow on the surface of a conductor rather than through its entire cross-section. This is due to the self-inductance of the conductor, which causes the current to concentrate on the outer layer of the conductor. This effect is more prominent at higher frequencies.

The skin depth is the distance from the surface of the conductor at which the current density drops to 37% of its maximum value. It is inversely proportional to the square root of the conductivity of the material. This means that as the conductivity of a material increases, the skin depth decreases. This is because highly conductive materials allow more current to flow on the surface, reducing the penetration depth of the current.

Now, let's address your confusion about good conductors and skin depth. A good conductor is a material that allows for the easy flow of electric current. This is typically characterized by a low electrical resistance. However, in the case of skin effect, the conductivity of the material plays a more significant role in determining the skin depth. As mentioned earlier, higher conductivity leads to a smaller skin depth, which means the current will mostly flow on the surface of the conductor.

In summary, skin effect and skin depth are affected by the material used for the conductor, its diameter, and the frequency of the current. A good conductor, with high conductivity, will have a smaller skin depth due to the increased current flow on its surface. I hope this clarifies your understanding of these concepts. Good luck with your assignment!