Homogenization of foil windings with globally supported polynomial shape functions

Abstract

In conventional finite element simulations, foil windings with thin foils and with a large number of turns require many mesh elements. This renders models quickly computationally infeasible. This paper uses a homogenized foil winding model and approximates the voltage distribution in the foil winding domain by globally supported polynomials. This way, the small-scale structure in the foil winding domain does not have to be resolved by the finite element mesh. The method is validated successfully for a stand-alone foil winding example and for a pot inductor example. Moreover, a transformer equipped with a foil winding at its primary side is simulated using a field-circuit coupled model.

Keywords

• eddy currents
• finite element method
• foil windings
• homogenization
• inductor
• transformer