On the Use of Boundary Element Method for the Study of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Devices

The Boundary element method (BEM) is not as well-known in the study of low frequency electromagnetic devices, as its counterpart Finite Element Method (FEM). This paper presents a review on the research conducted on the application of BEM to familiarize the researchers with the capabilities of BEM for the study of these devices. This includes the works on both electromagnetic and acoustical studies of the electric motors, generators, actuators, and power transformers. This review shows that BEM is an effective tool for the noise calculation of these apparatuses, while the hybrid BEM-FEM method is the most appreciated choice for their electromagnetic modeling.