Electromagnetism

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to model engineering applications involving electromagnetic phenomena. Example applications are electric motors, electric switches, and transformers, which can be modeled based on the classical theory of Electromagnetism.

The governing equations and their implementation in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ are presented in the Electromagnetism section of the Theory Guide.

Note	For electromagnetic simulations, you require a double-precision version of Simcenter STAR-CCM+.

Target Applications and Models Overview

The Electromagnetism module in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ includes several physics models that target a variety of applications:

Electrostatics

Electrostatic simulations model electric charges in dielectric or poorly-conducting materials. Electrostatic applications assume that the distribution of electric charges does not vary with time, or that the variation occurs over relatively long time scales. Dynamics effects can therefore be neglected.

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you model Electrostatic phenomena using the Electrostatic Potential model, which calculates the electric potential due to the electric charge density.

The following example shows the distribution of the electric field in a cylindrical capacitance sensor.

Setup procedure: see Modeling Electrostatics.
Model associations and properties: see Electrostatic Potential Model Reference.

Low-Frequency Electromagnetics

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to model low-frequency electromagnetic fields in conducting media. For low-frequency, the conduction currents in the conducting material are orders of magnitude greater than the displacement currents, which are therefore neglected.

In general, for fields that vary with time, electric and magnetic effects are mutually coupled. Electric currents induce magnetic fields, and magnetic fields induce electric currents. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to model electric currents and magnetic fields independently, or together as a single coupled problem.

Electric Currents

Electrodynamic simulations model electric currents in conducting materials.

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you model electric currents using the electrodynamic potential models, which calculate the electric potential due to electric currents.

The following example shows the simulation of electric currents flowing through a domestic fuse, increasing its temperature.

Setup procedure: see Modeling Electric Currents.
Model associations and properties: see Electrodynamic Potential Model Reference.

Magnetic Effects

Magnetic field simulations model the magnetic field induced by permanent magnets, excitation coils, and other sources of electric current density.

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you model magnetic effects using the magnetic vector potential models, which calculate the magnetic vector potential due to the electric current density, using either the finite element or the finite volume method. The finite element implementation is ideal for cases with spatial variation in magnetic permeability. The finite volume implementation requires less memory, but it is not suitable for cases with spatial variation in magnetic permeability.

For 2D and axisymmetric transverse magnetic modes (TM), where the magnetic field lies on the plane of a 2D domain, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the transverse magnetic potential models.

The following example shows the simulation of an axial-flux motor, in which the magnetic flux density induced by permanent magnets produces a torque.

Setup procedure: see Modeling Magnetic Fields.
Model associations and properties: see Magnetic Vector Potential Models Reference.

The following workflow sections assume that you are already familiar with general Simcenter STAR-CCM+ tasks, such as importing or generating a volume mesh, activating physics models, selecting materials, and creating reports and scenes. For more information on the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ general workflow, see General Simulation Process.

To visualize the electric and magnetic field lines, you can create a streamline derived part. As these field lines can have a normal component to the walls at a boundary, set the Wall Treatment derived part property to Off. See Streamline and Constrained Streamline Properties.

Note	In general, when the simulation contains multiple solids, you are recommended to use the Multi-Part Solid model, rather than creating a separate physics continuum for each of the solid materials. For more information, see Modeling Multi-Component Solids.

Electromagnetic Material Database

For electromagnetic applications, you can define materials using the Electromagnetic material database. This material database, originally created for Simcenter MAGNET, contains a variety of predefined materials, including different types of magnetic steels, and ceramic and rare earth permanent magnets. Depending on the material, the predefined electromagnetic properties can include B-H values as well as temperature-dependent values.