Numerical Evaluation of 2-D Proximity Effect Conductor Losses

An efficient FEM-based solution of two-dimensional proximity effect transient problems is presented. Both computer execution times and memory storage requirements can be consistently reduced by employing a suitable formulation leading to a sparse linear system of equations with a (slightly) higher dimensionality with respect to the corresponding much more dense system resulting from the standard formulation. The evaluation of ohmic proximity losses in adjacent conductors is of great interest in the field of power electronics since in high-frequency (HF) transformers and inductors windings, such losses become very significant and must be correctly predicted in order to carry out an accurate design of magnetic devices.