Bridging the Gap Between FEA Field Solution and the Magnetic Component Model

The use of finite element analysis (FEA) solvers in order to explore the field distribution is a common practice for designing custom made magnetic components. However, the use of the field distribution information for the generation of a model valid to be simulated in a circuit simulator is not evident. There are several issues that need to be addressed in order to obtain a model based on the field solution. This paper presents the steps that should be taken to generate a FEA based magnetic component model. In addition, the paper describes the appropriate path (analytical or FEA based) that should be followed depending on the model needs. The presented procedure applies superposition theory to obtain a model valid for any arbitrary electrical waveform. This model is not restricted to sinusoidal regime