Motor-CAD
Integrated electromagnetic and thermal analysis package for electric machines.
Motor-CAD, a software package for analyzing electric motors and generators electromagnetically and thermally, has been on the market since 1999 and is produced by Motor Design Ltd. It includes modules tailored to various machine types, such as brushless permanent magnet motors, induction motors, switched reluctance machines, and claw pole designs. The software’s electromagnetic module uses an integrated fast finite element method to predict performance, while its thermal module combines lumped-circuit and finite-element calculations to optimize cooling systems. Supported cooling methods range from natural convection and forced convection to water jackets, spray cooling, and wet rotor configurations, and it can model numerous housing types. A Lab module works alongside the electromagnetic and thermal modules to generate efficiency maps and transient outputs for drive cycles in minutes, aiding early design exploration.
Thermal analysis of electric machines is generally considered more difficult than electromagnetic analysis, both in model construction and achievable accuracy. Its importance has grown with the push for energy efficiency and compact designs, especially in aerospace and automotive sectors where size, weight, and efficiency are critical. Motor-CAD enables engineers to address both electromagnetic and thermal aspects early in the design process. Compared to other thermal modeling techniques like computational fluid dynamics, Motor-CAD has been shown to deliver similar accuracy in a fraction of the time.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Motor Design Ltd
- Released
- November 1999
- Latest Release Version
- 10.4.1
- Latest Release Date
- May 2017
- Operating System
- Windows
- Genre
- CAD
- License
- Proprietary
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Motor-CAD was initially released in 1999 by Motor Design Ltd. It includes modules for a wide range of machine types, such as brushless permanent magnet motors, induction motors, and switched reluctance motors. The software features an integrated ultra fast finite element module (EMag) for electromagnetic predictions and a thermal module (Therm) that combines lumped circuit and finite element calculations for cooling system optimization. Cooling methods modelled include natural convection, forced convection, water jackets, and spray cooling, among others. The Lab module works with EMag and Therm to help develop new design concepts, providing efficiency mapping and duty cycle transient outputs within minutes. The article notes that thermal analysis of electric machines is regarded as a more challenging area than electromagnetic analysis in model construction and accuracy, and its importance is growing due to the drive for energy efficiency and compact design, especially in aerospace and automotive sectors.
Reader's Guide
Motor-CAD's significance lies in its ability to address the increasing challenge of thermal analysis in electric machine design, which the article describes as more difficult than electromagnetic analysis. The software allows designers to consider both electromagnetic and thermal aspects at early stages, a design approach often taken to meet demands for energy efficiency and compactness. This is particularly relevant for aerospace and automotive sectors where size, weight, and efficiency drive design. The article notes that other thermal modelling techniques, such as computational fluid dynamics, exist, but Motor-CAD has been shown to give results with similar accuracy in a fraction of the time. Its legacy is tied to enabling rapid thermal and electromagnetic co-design, supporting a wide range of machine types and cooling methods, and providing transient outputs for duty cycles within minutes. The software's integrated modules and fast finite element capabilities make it a tool for early-stage design optimization, as described in the source.
Did You Know?
- It includes modules for claw pole machines and switched reluctance motors.
- The Lab module can provide duty cycle transient outputs within a few minutes.
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