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Maxwell 2D - Simplorer Co-Simulation Getting Started Guide: 2.1 Start RMXPRT
Maxwell 2D - Simplorer Co-Simulation Getting Started Guide: 2.1 Start RMXPRT
1. Introduction
Maxwell 2D is an interactive, GUI-driven software package that uses the finite element
analysis (FEA) to solve two-dimensional (2D) electromagnetic field applications. To
analyze a problem, the user specifies the geometry, material properties, sources of energy
and boundary conditions. In this guide Maxwell 2D is used to solve a motor application
(2D transient with motion finite element problem) with the driving circuits being supplied
by a SIMPLORER model. SIMPLORER is a circuit and system simulator for the virtual
prototyping of large-scale mechatronic, power electronic, and electromechanical systems.
This co-simulation capability offers the user the combined accuracy of the finite element
method solution of complex electromagnetic components such as electric motors,
actuators, etc. and the complexity of the attached driving and control circuits.
This getting started guide aims to provide an introduction into the co-simulation type of
application. The example presented is relatively simple such that the exercise of setting up
the application as described here can be accomplished by a Maxwell 2D/SIMPLORER
user in 2 - 3 hours. The proposed application is a single phase induction motor (modeled
as a FEM Maxwell 2D model) with the simple driving circuits in SIMPLORER. To avoid
the task of creating the geometry of the motor in Maxwell 2D, RMxprt will initially be
used here to provide a convenient way of expediting the otherwise work-intensive task of
creating from scratch the geometry of the motor. Thus the present getting started guide
will be structured in three main parts: a) creating the RMxprt model; b) creating the
Maxwell 2D motor (FEM) model; c) Creating the SIMPLORER model and the coupling
to Maxwell 2D. For existing Maxwell 2D transient applications it is possible to directly
couple the finite element model with SIMPLORER driving circuits as described later in
this document.
2. Creating the RMxprt model of the single phase (capacitor run) induction motor
As widely known, RMxprt provides a fast analytical solution to a wide range of electric
rotating machines types. The RMxprt interface provides a simple way of creating the
model for the single phase induction motor as described below.
2.1 Start RMxprt
Start Maxwell and from the Maxwell Control panel select the PROJECTS button. The
panel in Fig. 1 appears. Select (or add) the project directory to contain your RMxprt model
and click the New button.
RMxprt allows you to define the model via a number of pages designed with the
specificity of each motor type in mind. For the single phase induction motor you have
access to six such pages which can be open by selecting the corresponding tab. The data to
be entered in each of the six pages is described next. Select sequentially each of the six
tabs and then enter the respective data as presented in Fig. 3 Fig. 8.
In the page in Fig. 3 make sure that Constant Power is selected as Load Type.
To Run the RMxprt simulation select the Run/Analytical Design command from the
RMxprt general interface. The solution time should be a few short seconds. Results can be
accessed from the output text file via the command Post Process/Design Output. Some of
the information contained in that output file will be useful later, during the setup of the
Maxwell 2D FEM analysis. To view the winding layout, select the command Post Process
/ View Winding Layout. The connection diagram of the winding is presented in a
graphical format as shown in Fig. 9. To make the connections visible, right-mouse click on
the surface of any of the stator slots and select the command Connect all coils.
The Maxwell 2D transient project has been created in part- from RMxprt and contains
the geometry. Additional work is necessary to finalize the setup.
3.1 Grouping objects
Open the newly created Maxwell 2D transient project by selecting the respective name in
the Projects window and click the Open button.
To assign material properties and excitations efficiently it is useful to group together
objects that belong to the same winding. To do that, from the Executive Commands
window, select Define Model/Group Objects command. A window containing a list of all
objects created by RMxprt appears (Fig. 11). Note that objects belonging to certain
categories have similar names. For example all rotor bar are named Bar0, Bar1, etc. These
objects are grouped together as indicated below.
Master
Slave
The values to be used for the end connection setup are supplied by RMxprt in the Design
Output file in the Transient FEA Input Data section of the text file. For the value to enter
in the End inductance field just add together the respective values of End Ring Leakage
Inductance and Skew Leakage Inductance.
The set up of the winding is very similar to the usual one for the motor applications where
conductors are grouped in windings and the type of source is External Connection with
the Strand option selected.
To set up the main winding, select the PhA group of conductors, give it a name (Aphase
for example) and select the External Connection and Strand radio buttons, then click
on the Winding command. Set the winding as shown in Fig. 18, with positive polarity
and 510 turns as supplied by RMxprt in the Design Output file in the Transient FEA Input
Data section.
In general existing SIMPLORER models can be linked with Maxwell 2D transient finite
element models or a new model can be created from scratch. In this getting started guide
the second approach will be taken.
4.1 Creating the link between SIMPLORER and Maxwell 2D Transient
The coupling between Maxwell and SIMPLORER is effectively created in the
SIMPLORER project. For the purpose of the link, an FEA Link component has been
created and can be found on the Model Agent page under ADD Ons/Interfaces. To initiate
the link process, place this component (drag and drop) on the SIMPLORER sheet in a
position which is appropriate for the electrical and mechanical connections as shown in
Fig. 22.
Note that in the case of coupling between Maxwell 2D Transient and SIMPLORER all
circuit elements, both electrical, mechanical (possibly others too) must be part of the
SIMPLORER model.