Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.

Axisymmetric Approximation of 3D Inductor

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.2.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
When the frequency is high enough, capacitative effects can become important also for
devices that are inductive and/or resistive at lower frequencies. Modeling this effect in an
inductor requires accounting for electric field components both parallel and perpendicular
to the wire. This easily leads to the conclusion that a 3D model is always necessary even if
the coil is a low slant helix. This is not always the case, as shown in this tutorial.

Starting from the 3D inductor model described in the Introduction to AC/DC Module
manual, a 2D axisymmetric model able to describe a self resonating inductor is created. In
order to build an equivalent 2D axisymmetric model, an effective axisymmetric core is
drawn and the RLC Coil Group feature is used.

The method shown here is particularly suitable for studying systems with thousands of
turns, such as sensors or transformers, with limited computational power.

Model Definition
The 3D solution of the power inductor of Figure 1 is presented in the manual
Introduction to AC/DC Module. We are considering the same system.

Figure 1: The 3D geometry representation of the power inductor under study.

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In that device, the coil can to a reasonable level of approximation be treated as
axisymmetric. Therefore, any of its cross-sections are suitable for performing a 2D
axisymmetric analysis from a geometric point of view.

On the other hand, the core geometry shape indicates that a 3D analysis is required.
However, in order to have a description which is correct from a magnetic point of view,
the core does not have to be rotationally symmetric as long as:

• it is not supporting 3D nonaxisymmetric eddy currents

• an equivalent axisymmetric geometry respecting the original core reluctance is used

Such a construction, that is, replacing the 3D core with a 2D axisymmetric representation
that preserves the crucial area that influences the magnetic circuit, is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: The 2D axisymmetric geometry equivalent to the power inductor under study.

The parameters are defined in Table 1. The original external column area (as given by the
Outer column section area variable in Table 1) is the area represented in Figure 3. It is
2 2
exactly   r out – r in  in the 2D axisymmetric geometry. A similar consideration is valid for
the Upper magnetic circuit closure.

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The coil geometry representation in 2D axial symmetry is directly taken from the midplane
cross section in the xz-plane in 3D. Figure 4 shows the final 2D axisymmetric geometry.
TABLE 1: QUOTA OF THE 3D AND THE 2D AXISYMMETRIC EQUIVALENT.

3D 2D axial symmetry 2D axisymmetric

variable name
Inner column radius 3.5 cm 3.5 cm -
Outer column 6.5 cm 6.5 cm r_in
internal radius
Outer column 19.92 cm2 Identical by construction external_area
section area
Outer column - sqrt(external_area/ r_out
external radius pi+r_in^2)

Upper magnetic 7.5 cm2 Identical by construction upper_area

circuit closure area
Upper magnetic - upper_area/pi/r_in h_eq
circuit closure

The main challenge of the 2D axisymmetric coil model is to account for the way that the
electric currents will flow. The RLC Coil Group feature available in the Magnetic and
Electric Fields interface automatically takes into account that the currents are balanced
among:

1 conduction currents and induced currents that are flowing in the azimuthal direction
2 displacement currents that flow in the rz-plane from one turn to the other

In the low-frequency limit, currents are all of the first type. In the high-frequency limit,
the currents are all of the second type. At some intermediate frequency there is a resonant
frequency where inductive and capacitive effects perfectly balance and the coil self-
resonates. At this frequency the inductor is purely resistive and the total loss peaks as a
function of frequency.

In this model the core is not grounded and there is no other external electric ground.
Compared to a real system where the inductor often is mounted on or near a ground plane,
this may cause a shift in the resonance frequency. This is easily added, for example by
applying one or more electric boundary conditions to the core boundaries.

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Figure 3: The 3D cross sectional area of the outer columns used to compute the 2D
axisymmetric outer columns width.

Figure 4: The 2D axisymmetric geometry including some surrounding air.

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Results and Discussion
The field and loss plots can be compared to the 3D model discussed in the Introduction
to AC/DC Module manual.

Figure 5: Magnetic flux density in the revolved 2D geometry.

Figure 6: The eddy current losses are shown (log scale with zero offset).

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The in-plane electric field magnitude strongly depends on the frequency, as is clearly
shown from comparing Figure 7 and Figure 8.

Figure 7: Electric field between turns far from the resonance frequency.

Figure 8: Electric field between turns at the resonance frequency.

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The most striking sign of the resonance is shown in Figure 9, where the real and imaginary
parts of the coil impedance are shown. The resistance (blue curve) is shown in tens of k
together with the reactance divided by the angular frequency (green curve). The green
curve starts at low frequencies from the static inductance, grows, and then becomes
negative. When the green curve becomes negative, it means that the coil behaves like a
capacitor. The real part of the impedance accounts for losses, and peaks at the frequency
where the capacitative and the inductive contributions to the overall system impedance
balance out. The position and value of the peak featured by the 2D axisymmetric model
also match the ones of the original 3D model in the Introduction to AC/DC Module
manual fairly well.

Figure 9: The inductor impedance as a function of frequency. Compare this plot to the
corresponding plot of the 3D Inductor in the Introduction to AC/DC Module manual.

Application Library path: ACDC_Module/Devices,_Inductive/

axisymmetric_approximation_of_inductor_3d

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

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NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D Axisymmetric.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select AC/DC>Electromagnetic Fields>Vector Formulations>
Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef).
3 Click Add.
4 In the Added physics interfaces tree, select Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef).
5 Click Study.
6 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Frequency Domain.
7 Click Done.

First import the 3D geometry and take some measurements to generate the axisymmetric
equivalent.

PART 1
In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Geometry Parts>
3D Part.

Import 1 (imp1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Import.
2 In the Settings window for Import, locate the Import section.
3 Click Browse.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
inductor_3d.mphbin.

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5 Click Import.

Work Plane 1 (wp1)

1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Work Plane.
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, locate the Plane Definition section.
3 From the Plane list, choose xz-plane.
4 Click Go to Plane Geometry.

Work Plane 1 (wp1)>Cross Section 1 (cro1)

1 In the Work Plane toolbar, click Cross Section.
2 In the Settings window for Cross Section, click Build Selected.

Work Plane 1 (wp1)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions>Geometry Parts>Part 1 click
Work Plane 1 (wp1).
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, click Build Selected.

Delete Entities 1 (del1)

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Part 1 and choose Delete Entities.
2 In the Settings window for Delete Entities, locate the Entities or Objects to Delete section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.

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4 On the object imp1, select Domains 2–5 only.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

6 Click Build Selected.

Work Plane 2 (wp2)

1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Work Plane.
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, locate the Plane Definition section.
3 In the z-coordinate text field, type 5[mm].
4 Click Go to Plane Geometry.

Work Plane 2 (wp2)>Cross Section 1 (cro1)

1 In the Work Plane toolbar, click Cross Section.
2 In the Settings window for Cross Section, click Build Selected.

Work Plane 2 (wp2)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions>Geometry Parts>Part 1 click
Work Plane 2 (wp2).
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, click Build Selected.

Work Plane 3 (wp3)

1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Work Plane.
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, locate the Plane Definition section.

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3 From the Plane type list, choose Face parallel.
4 On the object del1, select Boundary 46 only.

5 Click Go to Plane Geometry.

Work Plane 3 (wp3)>Cross Section 1 (cro1)

1 In the Work Plane toolbar, click Cross Section.
2 In the Settings window for Cross Section, click Build Selected.

Work Plane 3 (wp3)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions>Geometry Parts>Part 1 click
Work Plane 3 (wp3).
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, click Build Selected.
The next step returns in the message log the relevant quota for the 3D to 2Daxi
reduction.
3 Click the Wireframe Rendering button in the Graphics toolbar.
4 In the Home toolbar, click Build All.
Next, make some measurements for use when creating the axisymmetric geometry.
5 In the Model Builder window, click Part 1.
6 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Select Boundaries, then choose
Select Points.

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7 On the object wp2, select Points 9 and 14 only.
It might be easier to select the points by using the Selection List window. To open this
window, in the Home toolbar click Windows and choose Selection List. (If you are
running the cross-platform desktop, you find Windows in the main menu.)

8 In the Geometry toolbar, click Measure.

Note the distance value, 0.07 m, and that the points have the same y- and z-
coordinates.
9 On the object wp2, select Point 7 only.

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10 On the object wp3, select Point 8 only.

11 In the Geometry toolbar, click Measure.

The distance between the points is 0.13 m, again along an axis parallel to the x-axis.
12 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Select Points, then choose
Select Boundaries.

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13 On the object wp2, select Boundaries 1, 2, 5, and 6 only.

14 In the Geometry toolbar, click Measure.

15 On the object wp3, select Boundaries 1 and 5 only.

16 In the Geometry toolbar, click Measure.

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The combined area of the two faces is 7.5·104 m2. You will later use this value when
drawing the 3D area of the upper magnetic circuit closure of the axisymmetric equivalent
core.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
Add parameters for drawing the axisymmetric equivalent core.

Parameters 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

inner_diameter 0.07[m] 0.07 m 3D diameter of
central column
outer_diameter 0.13[m] 0.13 m 3D inner distance
between external
columns
external_area 0.001992 [m^2] 0.001992 m² 3D area of one of
the two lateral
columns
upper_area 7.5e-4[m^2] 7.5E-4 m² 3D area of the
upper magnetic
circuit closure
r_in outer_diameter/2 0.065 m 2Daxi equivalence
for external
radius of lateral
column
r_out sqrt(external_area 0.069707 m 2Daxi equivalence
/pi+r_in^2) for external
radius of lateral
column
h_eq upper_area/pi/r_in 0.0036728 m 2Daxi equivalence
for height of
upper magnetic
circuit closure

GEOMETRY 1

Import 1 (imp1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Import.
2 In the Settings window for Import, locate the Import section.

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3 From the Source list, choose Geometry sequence.
4 From the Geometry list, choose Work Plane 1 (wp1), Part 1.
5 Click Import.

Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type r_out.
4 In the Height text field, type 0.0325+2*h_eq.
5 Locate the Position section. In the z text field, type -0.004-h_eq.

Circle 1 (c1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type 0.1.
4 Locate the Position section. In the z text field, type 0.01.
5 Locate the Size and Shape section. In the Sector angle text field, type 180.
6 Locate the Rotation Angle section. In the Rotation text field, type -90.

Intersection 1 (int1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Intersection.
2 Select the objects imp1 and r1 only.

Form Union (fin)

1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Build All.
2 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

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3 In the Model Builder window, click Form Union (fin).

MATERIALS
Add material data for the air and for the copper windings.

Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property

group
Relative permeability mur_iso ; murii 1 1 Basic
= mur_iso,
murij = 0

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Property Variable Value Unit Property
group
Electrical conductivity sigma_iso ; 0 S/m Basic
sigmaii =
sigma_iso,
sigmaij = 0
Relative permittivity epsilonr_iso ; 1 1 Basic
epsilonrii =
epsilonr_iso,
epsilonrij = 0
Add the constitutive relationship and the material information for the lossy iron core.

Material 2 (mat2)
1 Right-click Materials and choose Blank Material.
2 Select Domain 2 only.

Material 3 (mat3)
1 Right-click Materials and choose Blank Material.

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2 Select Domains 4–6 only.

3 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property

group
Relative permeability mur_iso ; murii 1 1 Basic
= mur_iso,
murij = 0
Electrical conductivity sigma_iso ; 6e7 S/m Basic
sigmaii =
sigma_iso,
sigmaij = 0
Relative permittivity epsilonr_iso ; 1 1 Basic
epsilonrii =
epsilonr_iso,
epsilonrij = 0

MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS (MEF)

Ampère’s Law and Current Conservation 2

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click
Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef) and choose Ampère’s Law and Current Conservation.

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2 Select Domain 2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Ampère’s Law and Current Conservation, locate the
Constitutive Relation B-H section.
4 From the Magnetization model list, choose Magnetic losses.

Magnetic Insulation 1
In the Model Builder window, click Magnetic Insulation 1.

Electric Insulation 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Electric Insulation.
2 Click the Select All button in the Graphics toolbar.

MATERIALS

Material 2 (mat2)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click
Material 2 (mat2).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property

group
Relative permeability (real part) murPrim 1200 1 Magnetic
losses
Relative permeability (imaginary murBis 100 1 Magnetic
part) losses
Electrical conductivity sigma_iso ; 0 S/m Basic
sigmaii =
sigma_iso,
sigmaij = 0
Relative permittivity epsilonr_iso ; 1 1 Basic
epsilonrii =
epsilonr_iso,
epsilonrij = 0

MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS (MEF)

First add the Ampere’s law, which is necessary for adding the RLC Coil Feature.

Ampère’s Law 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Ampère’s Law.

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2 Select Domains 4–6 only.

Add the RLC Coil Feature, which takes care of coupling the transverse currents inside the
conductors to the capacitative current flowing perpendicularly to the windings.

RLC Coil Group 1

1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose RLC Coil Group.
2 Select Domains 4–6 only.
As the coils are connected from the bottom to the top and domain ordering is not the
same, a manual ordering is necessary.
3 In the Settings window for RLC Coil Group, locate the Geometry section.
4 From the Domain ordering list, choose Manual.
5 Locate the Domain Selection section. In the list, select 5.
6 Locate the Geometry section. In the Domain list text field, type 5, 4, 6.
In order to improve variable scaling, set a ground voltage slightly different from zero.
7 Locate the RLC Coil Group section. In the V0 text field, type 1[mV].

MESH 1

Free Triangular 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Triangular.
2 In the Settings window for Free Triangular, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.

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4 Select Domains 2–6 only.

Size 1
1 Right-click Free Triangular 1 and choose Size.
2 Select Domains 2 and 3 only.
3 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
4 Click the Custom button.
5 Locate the Element Size Parameters section.
6 Select the Maximum element size check box. In the associated text field, type 2e-3.

Size 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Free Triangular 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.
4 Select Domains 4–6 only.
5 Locate the Element Size section. Click the Custom button.
6 Locate the Element Size Parameters section.
7 Select the Maximum element size check box. In the associated text field, type 5e-4.

Free Triangular 2
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Triangular.

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2 In the Settings window for Free Triangular, click Build Selected.

Boundary Layers 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary Layers.
2 In the Settings window for Boundary Layers, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 4–6 only.

A boundary layer mesh is added in order to resolve the skin depth.

Boundary Layer Properties

1 In the Model Builder window, click Boundary Layer Properties.
2 In the Settings window for Boundary Layer Properties, locate the Boundary Selection
section.
3 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
4 Locate the Layers section. From the Thickness specification list, choose First layer.
5 In the Number of layers text field, type 12.
6 In the Stretching factor text field, type 1.3.
7 In the Thickness text field, type 10[um].
8 Click Build Selected.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, locate the Study Settings section.
3 From the Frequency unit list, choose MHz.
4 In the Frequencies text field, type range(1,0.25,10).
5 In the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Magnetic Flux Density Norm (mef)

Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

Selection
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Datasets node.
2 Right-click Study 1/Solution 1 (sol1) and choose Selection.

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3 In the Settings window for Selection, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
4 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
5 Select Domains 2 and 4–6 only.

Magnetic Flux Density Norm, Revolved Geometry (mef)

In the Model Builder window, under Results click Magnetic Flux Density Norm,
Revolved Geometry (mef).

Study 1/Solution 1 (2) (sol1)

In the Results toolbar, click More Datasets and choose Solution.

Selection
1 Right-click Study 1/Solution 1 (2) (sol1) and choose Selection.
2 In the Settings window for Selection, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 3–6 only.

Resistive Losses
1 In the Results toolbar, click 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Resistive Losses in the Label text
field.

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3 Locate the Data section. From the Dataset list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (2) (sol1).
4 From the Parameter value (freq (MHz)) list, choose 1.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Resistive Losses and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type log(mef.Qrh+0.1).
4 In the Resistive Losses toolbar, click Plot.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

Electric Field
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Electric Field in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Dataset list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (2) (sol1).

Arrow Surface 1
1 Right-click Electric Field and choose Arrow Surface.
2 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 In the Settings window for Arrow Surface, locate the Arrow Positioning section.

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4 Find the r grid points subsection. In the Points text field, type 20.
5 Find the z grid points subsection. In the Points text field, type 20.
6 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expression section. From the
menu, choose Component 1 (comp1)>Magnetic and Electric Fields>Electric>mef.Er,
mef.Ez - Electric field.

Color Expression 1
1 Right-click Arrow Surface 1 and choose Color Expression.
2 In the Electric Field toolbar, click Plot.
3 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
4 In the Model Builder window, click Color Expression 1.

Electric Field
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Electric Field.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
3 From the Parameter value (freq (MHz)) list, choose 6.25.

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4 In the Electric Field toolbar, click Plot.

Impedance
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Impedance in the Label text field.
3 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose None.
4 Locate the Legend section. From the Position list, choose Upper left.
5 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the Two y-axes check box.

Generate a plot with the real and the imaginary part of the impedance, which can be read
at low frequency as impedance and resistance. The resonant peak is clearly visible and
compares well with the original 3D geometry.

Global 1
Right-click Impedance and choose Global.

Global 2
In the Model Builder window, right-click Impedance and choose Global.

Global 1
1 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.

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2 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

real(mef.VCoil_1/1[A])  Real part of impedance

Global 2
1 In the Model Builder window, click Global 2.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis section.
3 Select the Plot on secondary y-axis check box.
4 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

imag(mef.VCoil_1/1[A])  Imaginary part of impedance

5 In the Impedance toolbar, click Plot.

6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

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