Course syllabus

Course-PM

EEK221 EEK221 Applied computational electromagnetics lp4 VT22 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Electrical Engineering

Contact details

Examiner: Yuriy Serdyuk, yuriy.serdyuk@chalmers.se.

Teacher: Babak Alikhanzadehalamdari, ababak@chalmers.se.

Course purpose

The course is an advanced course offered for students following Master Programs in electric power engineering, electromagnetics, material science as well as for post-graduate students dealing with different kinds of fields and their interactions with materials.

The course aims to introduce students to fundamental concepts of low frequency electromagnetics with examples from electrical power engineering, to give basic knowledge on numerical techniques and computer software for field calculations. The course focuses on developing practical skills in using computational tools and analyzing results of computer simulations. Essential part of the course is devoted to solving a set of electric, magnetic, thermal and coupled (multiphysics) problems related to different power frequency applications using commercial finite-element software.

After successive completion of the course, a student is prepared to solve electric, magnetic, thermal and coupled field problems related to high voltage engineering and technologies, power electronics, electrical drives and machines, material science, etc.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Fleisch “A student's guide to Maxwell's equations”, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN 9780511390609 (electronic version available via Chalmers library)

R. Claycomb “Applied electromagnetic using QuickField and Matlab”, Infinity Science Press, 2008, ISBN 9781934015124 (electronic version available)

K. Cheng “Field and wave electromagnetics”, second edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1989, ISBN 0-201-12819-5 (later editions can be used).

Course design

The course comprises 12h lectures, 20h computer exercises, 4h seminar, 4 home assignments and 3 meetings (6h in total) devoted to course projects. The assignments and the project task are to be solved outside the class and are to be reported before corresponding deadlines. 

Lectures and computer exercises focus on:

Introduction: Maxwell’s equations (integral and differential forms, time and frequency domains); decoupling of electric and magnetic fields.

Electric fields: electrostatic potential; electrostatic fields; Poisson’s and Laplace’s equations; boundary conditions; polarization; capacitance; electrical forces.

Magnetic fields: magnetic flux; magnetic scalar and vector potentials; equations for magnetostatic fields; boundary conditions; self and mutual inductance; magnetic forces.

Thermal fields: mechanisms of heat transfer and related equations; heat conduction; boundary conditions; mathematical similarity of equations for electrical, magnetic and thermal fields.

Numerical methods: introduction to finite differences, finite volumes and finite elements.

Software: introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics environment – GUI, setting up a model, drawing geometry, assigning material properties and boundary conditions, meshing, choosing appropriate solver (linear, non-linear, parametric, etc.), post-processing, solving coupled problems.

Seminar: knowledge on electric/magnetic/thermal fields and numerical methods for solving field problems received in the lectures are further developed during the seminar. Groups of students are expected to work out approaches for solving given tasks and to present them to other students.

Assignments: four assignments related to electric, magnetic, thermal calculations and coupled problems, respectively, are included in the course.

Project work: a subject of the project work is chosen for each group of students individually. Students are welcome to bring their own topics for the project, which should be discussed with the examiner and will be accepted if they meet the objectives of the course.

Changes made since the last occasion

Lectures and computer exercises have been updated.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

  • Demonstrate understanding of the concepts of electric, magnetic and thermal fields.
  • Formulate electrostatic field problems and solve them on a computer using finite-element software.
  • Formulate magnetostatic field problems and solve them on a computer using finite-element software.
  • Formulate static and dynamic heat transfer problems and solve them on a computer using finite-element software.
  • Identify couplings between different kinds of fields, formulate corresponding problems and solve them using finite-element software.
  • Analyze design (geometry, materials, etc.) of equipment from the point of view of field conditions.
  • Identify locations in the equipment where field optimization/modification is required.
  • Propose a strategy for computer modelling and simulations of the identified problem.
  • Illustrate (visualize) results of the computer simulations performed in different space dimensions (1D, 2D, 3D) and for time-dependent problems.
  • Interpret and judge results of the computations.
  • Propose ways for improved design supported by computer simulations.
  • Identify potential environmental risks based on the results of performed simulations and propose ways for achieving a sustainable solution for the design on the considered system, reflect over technical choices from ethical perspective and sustainable aspects.
  • Summarize and discuss the outcome of the performed simulations in a scientific report in an ethically justifiable manner related to plagiarism and authorship.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

Examination form

A successful student should fulfil the following requirements:

  • take part in the seminar and contribute to the development and presentation of one of the seminar topics,
  • complete the assignments and submit reports on each assignment,
  • complete a project work, submit a written report and orally present the results,
  • act as an opponent for one of the project work presentations and submit corresponding reviewer report.

The grading system is based on the following criteria (in % of the final grade):

  • participating in the seminar – max. 15%,
  • each approved assignment – max. 10% (max. 4´10=40%),
  • documented and presented project work – max. 30%,
  • reviewing others’ work – max. 15%.

Possible grades are: “failed”, “3” – 71-80%, “4” – 81-90%, “5” – 91-100%.

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due