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Publications in Scientific Journals:

E. Schmidt:
"Finite element analysis of electrical machines and transformers-State of the art and future trends";
COMPEL - The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 30 (2011), 6; 1899 - 1913.



English abstract:
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the state of the art of finite element analysis of
electrical machines and transformers. Electrical machines and transformers are prime examples of
multi-physical systems involving electromagnetics, thermal issues, fluid dynamics, structural
mechanics as well as acoustic phenomena. An accurate operational performance with different
electrical and mechanical load situations is more and more evaluated using various numerical analysis
methods including the couplings between the various physical domains. Therefore, numerical analysis
methods are increasingly utilized not only for the verification of contractual values of existing
machines, but also for the initial design process and for the design optimization of new machines.
Design/methodology/approach - The finite element method is the most powerful numerical
analysis method for such multi-physical devices. Since optimizations with respect to the overall
performance and also the total manufacturing costs will become more important, the utilization of
coupled multi-physical analyses is of growing interest. For the fast and powerful application of this
numerical analysis method, special attention should be given to the requirements of these
electromagnetic devices.
Findings - Various methods of coupling the different physical domains of multi-field finite element
analyses are described. Thereby, weakly coupled cascade algorithms can be used with most problems
in the field of electrical machines and transformers. On the other hand, a prime objective is to derive
comprehensive, multi-physical simulation models which are easily incorporated into design tools used
by engineering professionals.
Research limitations/implications - The development of robust and reliable computer-aided
tools for an optimal design of multi-physical devices such electrical machines and transformers has to
argue about the best possible coupling of various simulation methods. Special consideration shall be
paid more and more to a treatment of uncertainties and tolerances by means of statistical and
probabilistic approaches.
Originality/value - The paper discusses state of the art of finite element analyses of the mentioned
devices. Various optimized methods of modelling and analysis concerning the repetitive structure of
electrical machines for electromagnetic analyses are compared with their advantages and drawbacks.
Further, various methods of coupling the different domains of multi-field analyses in case of electrical
machines and transformers are described.
Keywords Electrical machines, Transformers, Multi-field analysis, Finite element analysis
Paper type Research paper


"Official" electronic version of the publication (accessed through its Digital Object Identifier - DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03321641111168183


Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.