An Open-Source FEM Magnetic Toolbox for Calculating Electric and Thermal Behavior of Power Electronic Magnetic Components

Minimizing power losses and the thermal management are important factors in developing magnetics for power electronics. Both are very relevant to maintain the efficiency and the maximum operating temperatures of the core and conductors. To bring this calculation in the development workflow, the FEM (Finite Element Method) Magnetics Toolbox (FEMMT) will be continued. This open-source toolbox helps to automatically simulate magnetics in a guided, standardized format, requiring minimal effort. Based on the magnetoquasistatic simulation, a thermal simulation is set up. Conductor and core losses are taken from the magnetostatic simulation. The losses are homogenized inside the winding and inside the core. Thermal geometries and materials are set by script (e.g., for air gap filling and potting material), to automate the time-consuming drawing process inside the FEM tool. After simulation, the results are read back. With the help of this toolbox, which is publicly and collaboratively developed on GitHub, entire parameter sweeps can be easily performed and the simulation process is significantly speeded up.