COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS SOFTWARE

by

BEE163117
Adil Anwar

A Project Report submitted to the

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Faculty of Engineering
Capital University of Science & Technology
Islamabad

March 2020
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................................v
LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................vi
Chapter 1........................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1
1.1 COMSOL Features..........................................................................................1
1.2 COMSOL Use In Key Area Of Engineering...................................................2
1.3 Modules for Electromagnetism.......................................................................2
1.3.1 Joule Heating............................................................................................3
1.3.2 Induction Heating.....................................................................................3
1.3.3 Microwave Heating..................................................................................3
1.3.4 Laser Heating...........................................................................................4
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................5
AC/DC MODULE.........................................................................................................5
2.1 E-Core Transformer.........................................................................................6
2.2 Computing capacitance....................................................................................6
2.3 Cable Tutorial Series.......................................................................................7
2.4 Computing Resistance Of Wire.......................................................................7
2.5 Magnetic Field of Helmholtz coil....................................................................8

v
 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Joule Heating..................................................................................................3
Figure 2. Microwave Heating.........................................................................................4
Figure 3. Laser Heating..................................................................................................4
Figure 4. E-Core Transformer........................................................................................6
Figure 5. Computing Capacitance..................................................................................7
Figure 6. Cable Tutorial Series......................................................................................7
Figure 7. Resistance of Wire..........................................................................................8
Figure 8. Magnetic Field................................................................................................8

vi
Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

COMSOL multiphysics is a cross-platform finite element analysis, solver

multiphysics simulation software. It allows conventional physics-based user interfaces
and coupled system of partial differential equations (PDEs). COMSOL provides
an IDE and and unified workflow for electrical, mechanical, fluid, acoustics and
chemical applications.

Beside the classical problems that can be addressed with application modules, the
core Multiphysics package can be used to solve PDEs in a weak form. An API
for Java and Live Link for MATLAB may be used to control the software externally.
An App Builder can be used to develop independent custom domain-specific
simulation applications. Users may use drag-and-drop tools (Form Editor) or
programming (Method Editor). COMSOL Server is a distinct software for the
management of COMSOL simulation applications in companies. Several modules are
available for COMSOL categorized according to application areas Electrical,
Mechanical, Fluid, Acoustic, Chemical, Multipurpose, and Interfacing.

1.1 COMSOL Features

The COMSOL features are as following
 Material Library.

 Multiphysics in single simulation process.

 Features from heat treatment to optics.

 Model Library.

 AUTOCAD, Solid work, MS Excel, MATLAB and many others.

 Online webinar.

 Multi-plot features.

 Curves and Geometries.

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1.2 COMSOL Use in Key Area of Engineering
This software can be used for Electromagnetic fields, Stretching, Fluid dynamics and
Gas dynamics. For the physical state, operator can use the predefined equations. It has
been used for most of the phenomena in science and technology, such as: Variety of
heat transfer methods, Electricity, Theory of elasticity, Molecular diffusion, Mass
transfer, Propagation, Wave propagation and Fluid flow. COMSOL Multiphysics
software used for design and simulate projects of Electricity, Mechanics,
Geosciences, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physics, Astronomy and Quantum. Comsol also
lets operator to link to other engineering softwares such as: Catia and MATLAB

1.3 Modules for Electromagnetism

The modules of electromagnetism are as follow

 COMSOL Multiphysics
 AC/DC module
 RF module
 Wave optics module
 MEMS module
 Plasma module
 Semiconductor module

There are different sources of electromagnetism loss. With COMSOL Multiphysics,

you can access built-in features to account for all of these EM heat sources, whether
in the quasistatic or high frequency regimes. The predefined interfaces include joule
heating, induction heating, microwave heating and laser heating.

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1.3.1 Joule Heating
The joule heating multiphysics interface couples the heat transfers in solids interface
with electric currents (AC/DC Module). It considers heating due to conduction
currents and dielectrics loss.

Figure 1. Joule Heating

1.3.2 Induction Heating

The Induction heating multiphysics interface couples the heat transfer in solids
interface with magnetic fields (in AC/DC module). It considers heating due to
induced currents and magnetics losses. A ferromagnetic core within an AC coil
modeled using the induction heating interface.

1.3.3 Microwave Heating

The microwave heating multiphysics interface couples the heat transfers in solids
interface with electromagnetic waves, frequency domain (in RF module). It considers
heating due to resistive, dielectric, and magnetic losses in the high-frequency regime.

3
 Figure 2. Microwave Heating

1.3.4 Laser Heating

The laser heating multiphysic interface couples the heat transfers in solids interface
with electromagnetic waves, beam envelopes (in wave optics module).

Figure 3. Laser Heating

It considers heating due to resistive, dielectric, and magnetic losses in the high-
frequency regime.

4
Chapter 2

AC/DC MODULE

The AC/DC Module includes the tools necessary for modeling:

 Capacitors

 Inductors

 Insulators

 Dielectric stress

 Coils

 Motors

 Sensors

 Solenoids

 Circuit parameter extraction (R-, L-, Z-matrices)

 Parasitic capacitance and inductance

 Combined SPICE circuit and field simulations

 Electric welding

 Electric insulation

 EMI/EMC

 Electromagnetic shielding

 Capacitive touchscreens

 Magnetic bearings

 Induction furnaces

 Dielectrics

 Generators

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  Plungers

 Transformers

 Transmission lines

2.1 E-Core Transformer

The model includes the effect of a nonlinear B-H curve in the core and shows how
to connect the transformer model to the external circuits using Electric Circuit
interface. The simulation is performed for two different cases; the first one with a
unity turn ratio and second one with a turn ratio of one thousand.

Figure 4. E-Core Transformer

2.2 Computing Capacitance

A capacitor, in its simplest form, is a two terminal electrical device that stores
electric energy when a voltage difference is applied across the terminals. The stored
electric energy is proportional to the applied voltage squared and is quantified by
the capacitance of the device. This model introduces a model of a simple capacitor,
the electric field and device capacitance are solved for under electrostatic
conditions.

6
 Figure 5. Computing Capacitance

2.3 Cable Tutorial Series

In this set of six tutorial models and associated documentation, you can investigate
the capacitive, inductive, and thermal properties of a standard three-core lead-
sheathed cross-linked polyethylene, high-voltage alternating current (XLPE HVAC)
submarine cable (500 mm 2, 220 kV).

Figure 6. Cable Tutorial Series

2.4 Computing Resistance of Wire

This model demonstrates how to compute the resistance of a short section of copper
wire. The convergence of the solution with respect to the mesh size is also studied.

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 Figure 7. Resistance of Wire

2.5 Magnetic Field of Helmholtz Coil

A Helmholtz coil is a parallel pair of identical circular coils spaced one radius apart
and wound so that the current flows through both coils in the same direction. This
winding results in a uniform magnetic field between the coils with the primary
component parallel to the axes of the two coils.

Figure 8. Magnetic Field