The loss of magnetic flux from a magnetic circuit due to a portion of the total magnetic flux following a path that renders it ineffective for the desired function of the circuit. Magnetic leakage reduces the overall efficiency of the operation. In a transformer, for example, magnetic leakage occurs when some of the flux from the primary circuit does not link with the secondary circuit.
The magnetic leakage coefficient, σ, is defined by the ratio of the total magnetic flux to the effective (or useful) magnetic flux; i.e.
A typical value of σ is 1.2 in electrical machines.