Numerical modeling of magnetic devices

We present a general approach to directly couple finite-element models with arbitrary electric circuits for application to electromagnetic devices. We describe both two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) transient finite-element models, with emphasis on 3-D using a T-SE formulation. For 3-D transient and circuit coupling, the derivation of the induced voltage is an integral part of the coupling approach, and the induced voltage links the magnetic field and the electrical circuit together. The system of electric circuits is created automatically. Then graph theory is used to deduce the circuit by tree/cotree and loop analysis. The resulting field equations and circuit equations are coupled together and solved simultaneously at each time step in the time domain. We give three examples of applications: a brushless do motor drive, a permanent-magnet synchronous motor drive, and a three-phase power transformer with rectifier and load circuit.