Understanding Incremental Inductance Measurement

The question asks which bridge is suitable for measuring incremental inductance. Incremental inductance is the inductance of a magnetic circuit element under specific direct current (DC) bias conditions, where the inductance value changes with the applied DC current.

AC Bridges and Their Applications

Various AC bridge circuits are used in electrical measurements to determine unknown parameters like inductance, capacitance, resistance, and frequency. Let's look at the options provided:

• Schering bridge: Primarily used for measuring capacitance and the dissipation factor (or loss angle) of a capacitor. It's not designed for inductance measurements.
• De-Sauty bridge: Also used for measuring capacitance. It's a simpler form compared to the Schering bridge and is useful when high precision is not required or when comparing two capacitors. It does not measure inductance.
• Kelvin’s bridge: This bridge is a modification of the Wheatstone bridge, specifically designed for measuring very low resistances accurately. It is not used for inductance measurements.
• Owen bridge: This is an AC bridge circuit commonly used for measuring self-inductance. It consists of four arms, typically including resistors and capacitors. A specific configuration of the Owen bridge makes it suitable for measuring inductance values that change with DC bias, which is precisely what incremental inductance is. By adjusting the DC bias current through the inductor under test and using the Owen bridge, one can determine the inductance at different operating points.

Conclusion on Incremental Inductance Measurement

Based on the applications of these bridges, the Owen bridge is the appropriate choice for the measurement of incremental inductance because it is designed to measure self-inductance and can be adapted for conditions where inductance varies, such as with a DC bias.