Luc Dupré

Modeling of electromagnetic phenomena in soft magnetic materials under unidirectional time periodic flux excitations

We report on recent advances in the modeling of magnetic losses in steel laminations used in electromagnetic devices. The integrated-lamination moving dynamic Preisach model, used to evaluate the dynamic magnetization loops under distorted unidirectional flux patterns, is described. The main goal is the comparison of two numerical procedures, using the finite element-finite difference technique and the finite element-fixed point technique, respectively, each properly taking into account the hysteresis characteristics by the Preisach theory. Moreover, attention is paid to the identification of the material parameters entering the moving dynamic Preisach model. Finally, the two techniques are validated by the comparison of numerical experiments and measurements on two different materials. Here, global as well as local quantities in the lamination structure are evaluated.

Optimized Design Considering the Mass Influence of an Axial Flux Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Generator With Concentrated Pole Windings

In this paper, the efficiency optimization of an axial flux permanent-magnet synchronous generator with concentrated pole windings is examined for a 3.6 kW/2000 rpm combined heat and power application. Because the efficiency of the machine is important, specific measures are taken in order to reduce losses in the machine: thin laminated grain oriented material in the teeth, concentrated pole windings, and segmented magnets. A study of the influence of a limited set of geometry parameters on the efficiency of this type of machine is done, using both analytical and finite-element methods. In the analytical as well as in the finite-element model, the inherent 3-D geometry of the axial flux machine is approximated by multiple 2-D models at different radii in circumferential direction. Afterwards, the influence of mass on the optimal values of the geometry parameters and the efficiency is considered, and it is found that mass can be seriously decreased with only a small reduction in efficiency. Finally, the results of both methods are compared with measurements on a prototype to evaluate their validity.

Space Mapping Optimization of the Magnetic Circuit of Electrical Machines Including Local Material Degradation

Production processes like cutting, performed on electrical steel laminations, influence their magnetic properties locally. Since the magnetic design of electrical machines does not take this effect into account accurately, the design may be suboptimal. Therefore, the need exists to develop a numerical procedure which is capable of optimizing electrical devices, taking into account the local material degradation and featuring high accuracy and acceptable calculation time. We developed a space mapping procedure meeting these requirements and we quantified the influence of the material degradation on the design of a switched reluctance motor (SRM). The results of the optimization show that the local material degradation has a significant influence on the dimensions of stator and rotor yoke

Comprehensive model of magnetization curve, hysteresis loops, and losses in any direction in grain-oriented Fe-Si

We report an investigation and theoretical assessment of the DC magnetic properties of high-permeability grain-oriented (GO) Fe-Si laminations under variously directed applied fields. We verified that normal magnetization curves, hysteresis loops, and energy losses depend on the field direction according to the sample geometry. This is explainable in terms of specific 180/spl deg/ and 90/spl deg/ domain wall processes and magnetization rotations. We present a novel phenomenological theory of the magnetization curves and hysteresis losses in GO laminations, excited along a generic direction; the theory is based on the single crystal approximation and pre-emptive knowledge of the magnetic behavior of the material along the rolling (RD) and the transverse (TD) directions. This approach is consistent with the general structure of Neels phase theory, with the additional consideration of hysteresis and losses. Epstein and cross-stacked sheet testing methods are the two base measuring configurations; all the other testing geometries (single sheet, disk, square) are expected to display intermediate behavior. The devised model provides, through a direct procedure, thorough and accurate prediction of magnetization curves and quasi-static losses in these two basic cases. Its application to the other geometries is equally possible, with only a limited amount of supplementary information.

Analysis of the Local Material Degradation Near Cutting Edges of Electrical Steel Sheets

Cutting leads to a certain local magnetic material degradation of the electrical steel sheet. Moreover, the material properties near the cutting edge contribute significantly to the global performance. This material degradation mostly occurs in the vicinity of critical parts of electromagnetic devices, such as stator and rotor teeth. Therefore, the need exists to characterize the local magnetic hysteresis properties due to cutting. We couple the non destructive measurements of needle signals, which are dependent on the local variations in magnetic hysteresis properties, with a numerical inverse algorithm. The inverse algorithm interprets the needle signals so that the unknown magnetic hysteresis properties can be reconstructed. The paper mainly deals with the construction of an accurate material model (numerical forward model), the correct solution of the inverse procedure and the validation of the obtained results. We reconstructed local magnetic hysteresis properties of differently cut steel sheets and we observed that it is possible to recover the material characteristics using a material model, which fully characterizes the hysteresis properties.

Comparison of Jiles and Preisach hysteresis models in magnetodynamics

In this paper a comparative study is presented of four hysteresis models with regard to the numerical computation of the fields inside soft magnetic laminations. Addressed topics include parameter identification and precision. All computed results are compared with measurements.

A Two-Level Genetic Algorithm for Electromagnetic Optimization

Optimizing complex engineering problems may demand large computational efforts because of the use of numerical models. Global optimization can be established through the use of evolutionary algorithms, but may demand a prohibitive amount of computational time. In order to reduce the computational time, we incorporate in the global optimization procedures a physics-based fast coarse model. This paper presents a two-level genetic algorithm (2LGA) for electromagnetic optimization. This algorithm employs the global convergence properties of the genetic algorithm, where acceleration of the optimization results from the fast computations of the coarse model (low level) and where accuracy is guaranteed by using a limited number of fine model (high level) evaluations. Using the coarse model, we iteratively build surrogate models (intermediate levels) where metamodels produce surrogate models which approximate the fine model. The proposed algorithm comprises internal parameters which are self-tunable. We applied the 2LGA to the optimization of an algebraic test function, to the optimization of a die press model (TEAM Workshop Problem 25) and to the optimization of an octangular double-layered electromagnetic shield. The results show that the 2LGA is converging to the optimal solutions as the traditional genetic algorithm and that the acceleration is dependent on the accuracy of the low level. An acceleration factor of more than two can be achieved.

Axial-Flux PM Machines With Variable Air Gap

Laminated soft magnetic steel is very often used to manufacture the stator cores of axial-flux PM machines. However, as the magnetic flux typically has main components parallel to the lamination plane, different magnetic flux density levels may occur over the radial direction: High flux densities near the saturation level are found at the inner radius, while the laminations at the outer radius are used inefficiently. To obtain a leveled magnetic flux density, this paper introduces a radially varying air gap: At the inner radius, the air gap is increased, while at the outer radius, the air gap remains unchanged. This results in equal flux densities in the different lamination layers. As the total flux in the stator cores is decreased due to the variable air gap, the permanent-magnet thickness should be increased to compensate for this. The effect of a variable air gap is tested for both a low-grade non-oriented and a high-grade grain-oriented material. For both materials, the redistribution of the magnetic flux due to the variable air gap results in a significant decrease of the iron losses. In the presented prototype machine, the iron losses are reduced up to 8% by introducing a variable air gap. Finally, a prototype machine is constructed using an efficient manufacturing procedure to construct the laminated magnetic stator cores with variable air gap.

A DTI-based model for TMS using the independent impedance method with frequency-dependent tissue parameters

Accurate simulations on detailed realistic head models are necessary to gain a better understanding of the response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Hitherto, head models with simplified geometries and constant isotropic material properties are often used, whereas some biological tissues have anisotropic characteristics which vary naturally with frequency. Moreover, most computational methods do not take the tissue permittivity into account. Therefore, we calculate the electromagnetic behaviour due to TMS in a head model with realistic geometry and where realistic dispersive anisotropic tissue properties are incorporated, based on T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images. This paper studies the impact of tissue anisotropy, permittivity and frequency dependence, using the anisotropic independent impedance method. The results show that anisotropy yields differences up to 32% and 19% of the maximum induced currents and electric field, respectively. Neglecting the permittivity values leads to a decrease of about 72% and 24% of the maximum currents and field, respectively. Implementing the dispersive effects of biological tissues results in a difference of 6% of the maximum currents. The cerebral voxels show limited sensitivity of the induced electric field to changes in conductivity and permittivity, whereas the field varies approximately linearly with frequency. These findings illustrate the importance of including each of the above parameters in the model and confirm the need for accuracy in the applied patient-specific method, which can be used in computer-assisted TMS.

Comparison of Iron Loss Models for Electrical Machines With Different Frequency Domain and Time Domain Methods for Excess Loss Prediction

The goal of this paper is to investigate the accuracy of modeling the excess loss in electrical steels using a time domain model with Bertottis loss model parameters n0 and V0 fitted in the frequency domain. Three variants of iron loss models based on Bertottis theory are compared for the prediction of iron losses under sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal flux conditions. The non-sinusoidal waveforms are based on the realistic time variation of the magnetic induction in the stator core of an electrical machine, obtained from a finite element-based machine model.