USING THE POWER OF SIMLAB FOR 3D ELECTROMAGNETICS ANALYSIS
Altair SimLab is reducing the number of clicks you need to do to get the job done. 3D transient magnetics has been introduced in the latest versions and Flux 2023 is adding a few things. The possibility to use non-meshed coils is one key advantage of the Flux solver, letting the user model coils in less time and generating 3D models that are lighter and faster to solve. Simple non-meshed coils can now be used in SimLab, with a very intuitive user interface to define them.
When modeling linear actuators in transient 2D or 3D with the modeling of the movement, the air around the parts needs to be remeshed automatically. This approach is general and allows both translation or rotating movements, whatever the shape of the parts, and enabling the evaluation of motion induced eddy currents. Coupled to the circuit that feeds the coil, and then capturing all transient effects, this kind of models will let you evaluate with great accuracy the time needed for the actuator to close.


Non-meshed coil definition for a linear actuator and 3D transient magnetics results with movement
Because Axial machines are today seen as a great technology for getting high power densities in the electrification of mobility, a template has been created in SimLab that will let you get your axial machine model set up only in a few clicks!


An axial machine model defined and solved in a few clicks
GETTING THE IMPEDANCE OF PARASITICS FOR POWER ELECTRONICS DESIGN
In the last version of SimLab, a new module was introduced allowing us to compute the effect of parasitic elements of electrical connections in power converters. In the 2023 version, those key quantities can be extracted in the form of impedances, in addition to the existing S-parameter computations available in Spice and TouchStone formats. Those impedance values can be used in Altair PSIM to get more precise evaluations of power converter performances, and also solve potential EMI issues.


Extracting the impedance of power busbars
IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIAL MODELING
The quality of the results you can get with a simulation tool depends a lot on the accuracy of the material characteristics you enter. Continuous improvements are being made to help you identify more precisely and in an easier way those key data.
Recently, the ability to model the impact of mechanical stress on magnetic performance has been introduced. B(H) identification tools provided in Flux now integrate those new models to help you fit the model. When it comes to iron losses, the Material Identification tool, which is available in the Flux supervisor, also proposes now enhanced fitting capabilities for the Bertotti model.


The Material Identification tool from Flux allows to fit material characteristics models in an easy way.
Most of the traction machines are now using permanent magnets. The demagnetization of these magnets is an effect that needs to be considered carefully, to avoid performance or even safety issues. Flux can evaluate this quite precisely based on a preisach model. In the new version, you are able to extract the spatial distribution of the magnetic state of the magnet after demagnetization, and use it as a starting point for a new computation, analyzing the motor performance after the magnet magnetization has been degraded.
AND ALSO
- Flux eMotor Toolbox (FeMT) has been improved with X-factors that can be applied to iron losses, separated maps of stator and rotor iron losses, the possibility to zoom on the maps, and a direct export of look-up tables for system simulations.
- Ability to use distributed mode when running parametric studies with Flux Skew.

REDUCING COMPUTATION TIMES BY USING DISTRIBUTED COMPUTATION
For some computations in FluxMotor, many finite element computations need to be done, and in cases like performance mapping, those calculations are independent from each other. It means that they can be run in parallel instead of sequentially, which speeds up the overall process. It is an option that the user can now activate, just specifying the maximum number of cores to be used.


Speeding-up performance maps computations by using distributed mode
IMPROVING INDUCTION MACHINE EFFICIENCY MAPS
Efficiency maps for induction machines have been provided with the last version of FluxMotor®, allowing to characterize the behavior of induction machines with squirrel cage in the "Torque-Speed" area, considering scalar control command. With 2023, new input parameters can be used: the maximum Line-Line voltage together with the maximum line current and the maximum speed of the machine. With this new option, the speed of the base speed point is not defined by a user input (Rated power supply frequency) but deduced by the internal process of computation to maximize mechanical power.


New "U-I" option for induction machine efficiency maps.
ADDING ROTOR POSITION DEPENDENCY FOR IMPROVED ACCURACY
For permanent magnet synchronous machines and synchronous reluctance machines, the computation of efficiency maps can now consider the rotor position dependency which definitely brings more accurate results. This option is also available when generating tables (for 1,2 or 4 quadrants) to be used in system-level simulation tools like Twin Activate or PSIM.


Adding rotor position dependency in the tables exported to system-level tools like Twin Activate or PSIM.
DON'T FORGET !
Running optimization studies is just a click away!
Altair's optimization tool HyperStudy can be directly launched from FluxMotor with your model ready to be used in optimization studies, with selected input variables and output responses automatically uploaded.
Do you know that you can also build detailed Flux models from FluxMotor?
Go to the Export area, select the test, configure it and go. In a few minutes, you get your fully parameterized model meshed and ready to be solved. A great time saving, especially when it comes to generate a 3D model!


Having a Flux model ready to be solved in a few cliks from FluxMotor

Altair Simulation-driven design changed product development forever, enabling engineers to reduce design iterations and prototype testing. Increasing scientific computing power expanded the opportunity to apply analysis, making large design studies possible within the timing constraints of a program. Now engineering adoption of AI is transforming product development again. The combination of physics-based simulation-driven design with machine learning, leveraging the latest in high-performance computing, enables teams to explore more and identify high-potential designs - while rejecting low-potential concepts - even earlier in development cycles.
Altair Flux, a low frequency electromagnetic simulation software used for motor simulation captures the complexity of electromechanical equipment to optimize their performance, efficiency, dimensions, cost or weight with precision, bringing better innovation and value products to end users.
Electromechanical design is key in all electrification projects and Flux is the perfect tool to optimize the efficiency of the power conversion. Whether you are designing electric machines, actuators, or busbars for power converters,Flux 2023will help you getting the results you need faster.
Altair Flux User Environment and Workflow
This brief video explains the general philosophy of how Altair Flux is used starting. The video also shows how commands for geometry, mesh generation and general model setup can be accessed.
FluxMotoris dedicated to addressing the global design of electric motors. It enables engineers to accelerate the design of machines, quickly explore a variety of configurations while considering multiphysics constraints, and select the most promising options within minutes.
With this new version ofFluxMotor 2023, new improvements are brought to continue bringing you the best compromise between simulation time and accuracy.
Discover Altair FluxMotor an Easy to Use Software Dedicated to e-Motor Concept Design
Altairis a global technology company providing software and cloud solutions in the areas of simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), and artificial intelligence (AI). Altair enables organizations across broad industry segments to compete more effectively in a connected world while creating a more sustainable future.