Computer-Aided Optimum Design of Magnetic Circuits with Permanent Magnets

A computer oriented method is developed for optimum design of magnetic circuits with permanent magnets. It consists of finding an electrical equivalent for the magnetic circuit and writing a computer program that evaluates the various circuit elements, solves the resulting network equations, computes the leakage and reluctance factors, and solves the design equations iteratively. The design can be carried out to satisfy criteria such as minimum magnet volume or minimum material cost. The program can also be used to obtain the expected performance of specified designs thus allowing the designer to evaluate his design ideas without excessive prototype building. The execution time is of the order of a few seconds, and the designer can use the program in interactive mode thus saving substantial engineering time.