Accelerated 3D FEA of an Axial Flux Machine by Exclusively Using the Magnetic Scalar Potential

Adrian Schäfer (), Urs Pecha, Benedikt Kaiser, Martin Schmid and Nejila Parspour ()
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Adrian Schäfer: Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Urs Pecha: Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Benedikt Kaiser: Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Martin Schmid: Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Nejila Parspour: Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-24

Abstract: This article focuses on increasing the computational efficiency of 3D multi-static magnetic finite element analysis (FEA) for electrical machines (EMs), which have a magnetic field evolving in 3D space. Although 3D FEA is crucial for analyzing these machines and their operational behavior, it is computationally expensive. A novel approach is proposed in order to solve the magnetic field equations by exclusively using the magnetic scalar potential. For this purpose, virtual variable permanent magnets (vPMs) are introduced to model the impact of the machine’s coils. The effect on which this approach is based is derived from and explained by Maxwell’s equations. To validate the new approach, an axial flux machine (AFM) is simulated using both 2D and 3D FEA with the magnetic vector potential and current-carrying coils as a reference. The results demonstrate a high level of agreement between the new approach and the reference simulations as well as an acceleration of the computation by a factor of 15 or even more. Additionally, the research provides valuable insights into meshing techniques and torque calculation for EMs in FEA.

Keywords: virtual variable permanent magnet; magnetic scalar potential; finite element analysis; computational efficiency; 3D flux; axial flux machine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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