List of Flux 2021.1 new features

a short description of each new features and improvements of this version.

New features dealing with Environment

New features Description
Dynamic Memory Performance

The first version of Dynamic memory management has been integrated in Flux 2020. By default, User (or static) memory was activated in supervisor options. Since two versions we continued to work on critical algorithms to improve the robustness and performance of Flux with the Dynamic memory mode. Thanks to these improvements, the performance obtained with dynamic memory is now close to the user mode.

We advise you to use Flux with dynamic memory without parallel computing (several Flux process on a same machine).

With parallel computing, we advise the User mode. Indeed, in dynamic memory mode each process queries the OS for dynamic allocation. There is therefore a risk of saturation of the OS.

We are continuing our work to improve performances, in particular to improve the use of dynamic memory with parallel computing for future versions.
New branding HyperWorks term is replaced by Altair Simulation Products

Note: the link with the Altair Web Site button has been also changed: https://www.altair.com/simulation-driven-design//
New features about documentation

The new features about the documentation are:

  • Some image has been updated to be consistent with other Altair software documentation. 500 images has been done in the previous Flux 2021 version, around 100 new images has been updated in this Flux 2021.1 version.
  • Two tutorials have been updated and migrated in DITA format:
    • Magneto static 3D - Sensor
    • Translating motion
  • A memento about Magnetism for electrical engineering has been added
  • A link to the online documentation has been added on the Help menu of Flux Supervisor and Flux:

New features dealing with Physics

New features Description
New GUI and user guide for coil modeling
In order to simplify the creation and to clarify the underlying models of Coil conductor regions in Flux, the GUI (i.e., the dialog box) of this type of region has been renewed. This new GUI merges two "legacy" regions, namely:
  • the Coil conductor region and
  • the Coil conductor region with losses (available only in AC Steady State Magnetic application)
into a new region that keeps the name Coil conductor region. In other words, the type with losses is now included in the more general Coil conductor region.

Further details on this new GUI, on backward compatibility issues and on a new section of the user guide dedicated to the modeling of coils and windings are presented in this page.
Improved coil conductor regions in 3D with relaxed geometrical constraints

In previous versions of Flux 3D, the creation of volume regions of type "coil conductor region" was subjected to significant geometrical constraints. The geometry (i.e., the volumes, faces, lines and points assigned to such a region) was required to have a uniform cross section, as if the faces belonging to the input electric terminal had been extruded along the current path described by the winding.

To circumvent these limitations, Flux’s latest release provides a new method to compute the current density in coil conductor regions. Consequently, several geometrical restrictions were lifted, and now in version 2021.1 a coil conductor region may:

  • be assigned to a geometry part imported into a Flux project from a CAD file
  • contain “parasite” points and lines anywhere in its volumes
  • share a common interface with other parts of the simulated device (e.g., the magnetic circuit of the coil)
  • have input and output terminals with different numbers of faces
  • have cross sections (i.e., the sections orthogonal to the current flow) with varying shapes between the input and output terminals

For further details on this new method and on its availability in Flux, please refer to the following release note chapter. The user guide will be updated with information on this subject in an upcoming version of Flux.

New macros

New macros Description
CreatePark_dq_From_abc

Create dq parameter from abc component using Park transformation.

Input:

  • Enter component a, b, c
  • Select the mobile mechanical set
  • Enter number of poles
  • Enter angle for which rotor is aligned with phase a
  • Enter name of the quantity

Output:

  • Create 2 new I/O (FLUX_D and FLUX_Q) parameters
  • If name of the quantity is flux, then create TORQUE_PARK parameter (nb_pole/2*(FLUX_D*IQ-FLUX_Q*ID)*sqrt(2)

ExportForcePerToothTo CSVSingleFile

Macro for exporting force by tooth in general-pourpose CSV format. Useful for 2D models of rotating machines. Previous steps to call the macro:

  1. Run the full transient analysis (at least one complete electric period)
  2. Open I/O context (mechanical) and create or import support to calculate forces
  3. Create data collection: forces for rotating machines using the previous I/O context.
  4. Evaluate the data collection
  5. Run the macro

Inputs:

  • Solved scenario
  • A force data collection associated with previous scenario
  • The pilot parameter (if any)
  • The rotor mechanical set
  • Rotor position min and max limits to identify the time instant that will be exported
  • The root of the file name for the CSV files
  • The selection of the type of analysis desired, frequential or temporal

Output: A CSV file. It contains a table with nine columns: number of case, mean speed, mean torque, number of the tooth, tooth coordinates (x,y), frequency/time, normal force and tangential force
CreateLookUpTableFrom TMProjectDQLight

Create look up table from TM project of Flux dq, Ld, Lq and torque versus Id, Iq and rotor position.

Input:

  • Current in 3 supplies
  • Select mobile and fixed mechanical sets
  • Max value for Id
  • Number of values for Id (odd)
  • Number of poles
  • Number of pole pairs represented in geometry (0.5 for one pole)
  • Number of stator periodicities
  • Number of steps in the electric period
  • Period for rotation (in degrees)

Output: result OML file with name created from the initial file (*_res.oml) and with more data such as phase resistance, end winding inductance, electric period and initial rotor position with possibility to display in Compose
Analyse Hysteresis Material

This macro represents the hysteresis cycle of a material, which magnetic property is described according with Jyles-Atherton or Preisach models.

It will launch a parametric study, varying maximum magnetic field (Hmax) to represent several hysteresis cycles.

Warning: When this macro is launched, the current Flux project will be closed and a new one is launched. To save the initial project previously is highly recommended.

Inputs:

  • Minimum and maximum values of Hmax
  • Simulation step of Hmax
  • Name prefix for CSV files
  • Material with BH hysteresis cycle to run the analysis

Outputs:

  • Several CSV files including: the hysteresis cycles, the addition of all these cycles, table of remanent induction and table of coercive field, both as function of maximum magnetic field (Hmax)
  • All the previous data saved as CSV files will be also stocked as 2D curves in a new Flux project

New/Updated examples

As a reminder, all examples are accessible via the Flux supervisor, in the context of Open an example.

New/Updated examples Description
Magnetic signature of a vessel

3D Application Note

New

 This example explains how to simulate the magnetic signature of a ship.
  • Mesh has been previously defined in SimLab.

    The starting point is a Flux project where geometry and meshing are already defined

  • Ship example has been taken from a PhD devoted to ship magnetic signature

    Gordon J. C. Aird, “Modelling the Induced Magnetic Signature of Naval Vessels”, - PhD dissertation, University of Glasgow, September 2000
DC_Motor

2D Application Note

Update

 The studied device is a DC motor.

Python and documentation have been updated to unload the overlay after the creation.
Switch Reluctance Machine

2D Application Note

Update

This simulation presents the electromagnetic modeling of Flux switching permanent magnet machine using Flux 2D and HyperStudy to maximize the efficiency. 3 new cases have been added:

Example 4: Design Optimization in HyperStudy

A study to optimize the design of Flux Switching Motor to increase efficiency.



Example 5: Heat Transfer Coefficients from SimLab

A study to perform Thermal analysis on Flux Switching Motor. Thermal Analysis is performed to obtain Heat Transfer Coefficients of surfaces of motor for Natural Convection.



Example 6: Thermal Analysis in Flux

A study to perform Thermal analysis on Flux Switching Motor in Flux to obtain temperature distribution in motor. Average losses in the model are obtained and Heat sources are calculated. Using the heat source and boundary conditions, the Maximum temperature in motor is obtained for inner wall temperatures from 303.15 K to 373.15 K.
Brushless IPM Motor

2D Technical Tutorial

Update

The study proposed in the "Brushless IPM motor tutorial" is a study of a motor designed for hybrid electric vehicle traction/generation.

New macro CreateLookUpTableFromTMProjectDQLight.PFM. has been added in this version, and this example has been updated with this macro. This update allows to obtain same results between Flux and FluxMotor.