AC Magnetics

For analyzing electromagnetic devices and systems with time-harmonic AC currents — computes eddy currents, proximity effect, impedance and Joule losses, with support for external circuit coupling.

About This Module

The AC Magnetics module can be used for any problem that requires studying the magnetic field produced by time-harmonic source currents, as well as for analyzing currents induced by a time-harmonic magnetic field (eddy currents) and the proximity effect, and for computing impedance, Joule losses and electromagnetic force.

As a specific type of electromagnetic simulation, AC Magnetics (or time-harmonic magnetics) analysis requires all voltages and currents in the problem to vary at the same frequency, and all media to be linear. Otherwise the problem is no longer time-harmonic, and Transient Magnetics analysis may be needed instead. AC Magnetics, however, solves much faster, and can often serve as a first approximation for a more complex electromagnetic problem.

AC Magnetics simulation can be coupled with a circuit.

The AC Magnetics configuration is well suited to designing induction heating devices, transformers, electromagnets, motors and other inductive components.

AC Magnetics Features

Materials: anisotropic permeability; current-carrying conductors can be given as current or voltage
Loads: voltage, total current, multiple current sources at different phases, current density, uniform external field
Boundary conditions: given magnetic potential value (Dirichlet condition), given tangential component of flux density (Neumann condition)
Superconductors
Results: magnetic potential, current density, voltage, flux density, field strength, force, torque, Joule heat, field energy, AC impedance, self and mutual inductance and other integral quantities. Most quantities are given both as amplitude-phase (complex) values and as time-averaged and RMS values (where applicable)
Coupling: electromagnetic force can be used in stress analysis of any part (magnetic-structural coupling); power loss can be used as a heat source in thermal analysis (magnetic-thermal coupling)