Title: Simulating Planar Magnetic Components – Fact or Fiction?

Abstract: Planar magnetic components consisting of a ferrite magnetic core and numerous conductor/insulation layers have been in use for many years.  Historically, determining winding and core losses considering temperature rise has only been possible using build and test iterations due to difficultly in determining 3D frequency and thermal dependent effects.  This can be accomplished only by using frequency and thermally dependent material properties in a 2-way spatially coupled simulation.  Furthermore, a frequency dependent system model accurately representing the real device can only be constructed after the steady-state temperature condition has been reached throughout in the device.

Recent breakthrough developments in simulation technology and high-performance computing from ANSYS make it possible to design, simulate and optimize planar magnetic components without simulation compromise and build-test augmentation.  This presentation will describe how ANSYS software tools are used to automatically setup and then solve a 2-way coupled magnetic-thermal model which is frequency dependent using a customized interface complete with manufacturer libraries.

Presenter’s short bio: Mark Christini (IEEE SM’98) received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University (’86) and MS degree in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (’89). He is currently a Lead Application Engineer for Electromechanical Products at ANSYS, Inc and has over 30 years of experience in design and analysis of electromagnetic components and systems.  Prior to joining Ansoft in 1995, Mark was employed by ABB – Large Power Transformer Division and New York State Electric and Gas. Mark served as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery 1999-2003 and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania.