Software for
Electromagnetic Design
Cobham Technical Services
Vector Fields Software
The most important thing we build is trust
Electromechanical
Devices
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Power Systems
Medical Physics
Scientific
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Opera
Accelerate and optimize your design with the
Opera electromagnetic modelling software
Introduction
Cobham Technical Services - Vector Fields
Software and its product Opera have been
at the forefront of finite element
electromagnetic analysis for more than
twenty-five years.
Opera is a general-purpose finite element
software suite for the design and optimization
of electromagnetic devices in two or three
space dimensions. It is fast, accurate and
cost-effective. Opera is designed to run
on laptops and on desktop computers.
Opera is the ultimate
electromagnetic design
automation tool: it helps
deliver design excellence on
time, regardless of whether
you are a small enterprise
or a large corporation.
The software has been in continuous
development since 1984 and is used in
industry and for scientific research throughout
the world. With Opera, you can analyze a
huge range of devices. You can design:
Prototype engineering models
High-tech low-volume specialist products
One-off international experiments
Consumer products for mass
manufacture
In technical terms, Opera gives accurate
numerical solutions to real-world problems in:
Electrostatics and magnetostatics
Low and high frequency
electromagnetics
Opera has a wide range of capability
that includes:
Moving parts (linear and rotational motion)
Sinusoidal and transient timedependance
Non-linear materials
External circuits and system engineering
Device optimization
In addition, Opera addresses related
problems in:
Ion optics
Thermal analysis
Stress analysis
This scope gives you the ability to
design and optimize many types of
electrical device, such as: magnets,
coils, transformers, motors, actuators,
switches, loudspeakers, alternators,
micro-machines, X-ray tubes, MRI
scanners and particle beam devices.
Opera provides a powerful virtual prototyping
facility to accelerate your design process to achieve
optimal solutions. This brochure summarises
Opera’s capability, we hope you find useful.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss
your specific requirements and to learn how
Opera can help you to achieve your design goals.
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Design > Simulate > Analyse > Optimize
SOLUTION
POSTPROCESSING
Geometry (native or CAD)
Mesh
Properties
Assemble input data
Solve field equations
Prepare results files
OPTIMIZER
COMMAND FILES
PREPROCESSING
Calculate derived quantities
Graphs, vectors & contours
Reporting
Overview
The Opera software suite provides
extensive facilities for electromagnetic
design combined with multiphysics
capabilities. It consists of a powerful
2d/3d modeller for creating design
models (or importing from CAD) and a
choice of specialized finite element
simulation tools that cover the
following technical areas:
Static electromagnetic fields
(the widely-used ‘Tosca’ program)
Low-frequency time-varying
electromagnetic fields
High-frequency time-varying
electromagnetic fields
Thermal and stress analysis
Linear and rotating machinery design
Superconducting magnet quenching
Particle beams including space
charge effects
Permanent magnet magnetization/
demagnetization
Hysteresis in soft magnetic materials
Electric field analysis in conducting
dielectric media
Following the simulation, a programmable
interactive post-processor allows users
to view and analyse the simulation, and to
perform additional calculations. Subsequent
improvement of designs is easy. The design
parameters may be changed at will to
enable ‘what-if?’ investigations.
Designs can be automatically improved with
the aid of Opera’s Optimizer. This optional
tool is powerful and fast, and will even
optimize competing objectives
simultaneously. Opera is available in 2d or
3d variants, for economy and speed of
design. It is available for use with 32-bit or
64-bit Windows or Linux operating systems.
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Opera
Design > Simulate > Analyse > Optimize:
Opera does it all
Powerful modelling capability
Component or system models can be
imported from an existing CAD system,
or created using Opera’s built-in modeller
with its powerful ACIS geometry kernel.
Modeller features include:
Advanced model creation facilities
in 2d and 3d
CAD file import (many options)
2d sketching using the mouse
(for fast model creation)
Non-linear, anisotropic and
multiphysics material properties
BH curve editor, plus library of materials
Circuit Editor, including state machine
definition
Parameterized conductors in 3d
Auto-generation of finite element
mesh for simulation
Coupling to third-party software
such as Simulink®
Model parameterization
A key advantage of Opera is the ability
to define any dimension of a model as a
parameter. This allows the user to perform
“what-if?” investigations and fully optimize
the design.
The Opera model file contains a complete
history of the commands that created
it enabling files to be ‘replayed’ and
modified - providing a template that can
be used to automate the design variations
of standard products.
Problem-solver power
Opera may be purchased in two or three
dimensional (2d, 3d) versions. In either
case the software will automatically
generate the finite element mesh, with the
option of adapting the mesh to achieve
a specified solution accuracy in 2d and
estimating the error in 3d. When your
design model is finished, you are ready
to simulate electromagnetic fields (and
other physics depending on the problem).
Opera offers a wide choice of analysis for
electromagnetic and multiphysics
applications in both the frequency domain
and the time domain:
Static electromagnetic solver
Our careful formulation using a scalar
potential algorithm gives accuracy
combined with high speed of calculation
and memory efficiency – boosting design
productivity. The static solver is ideal for
direct current (DC) applications, but is
often helpful as a starting point for more
complex designs too.
Typical applications: permanent or
electromagnet assemblies, MRI/NMR
field calculations, magnetic ‘signatures’,
initial design studies of rotating
machinery…
Low-frequency, time-domain
electromagnetic solver
Employs an advanced edge-variable finite
element analysis technique for high
accuracy combined with speed of
calculation. This solver is ideal for
problems where displacement current or
radiation effects can be neglected.
Typical applications: induced current
effects, transformers, maglev, NDT,
MRI gradient coils, remote sensing,
induction heating, recording heads…
High-frequency electromagnetic solver
This finite element solver is ideal
wherever accurate calculation of high
frequency electromagnetic fields is
required, and is particularly suitable for
eigenvalue calculations in cavities*.
Typical applications: resonant cavities,
filters, MRI RF coils…
Thermal and stress analysis
These two solvers can be used alone or
coupled with other Opera modules to
study temperature-related behaviour,
and mechanical stress arising from
thermal expansion and electromagnetic
effects.
Typical applications: induction heating,
MRI, electrical machines...
*Cobham Technical Services produces a dedicated package called Concerto for RF and microwave electromagnetic design with FDTD, FE and MoM solvers.
The finite element solver used in Opera is optionally available.
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Cobham will advise and help you to choose
the right solvers for your application
Complete, application-specific, design solutions
Software that provides ready-to-use
solutions for specific problems:
Machines & actuators
Solving electro-mechanical behaviour of
linear or rotational machines. Includes
support for skewed shapes (even in 2d)
and rapid simulation of a period in a
symmetric design.
Superconducting ‘quench’
Unique solution for superconducting
magnets and coils (MRI, NMR) including
coupled thermal behaviour to model
quench, and coupling to eddy currents in
support structures.
Charged particles
Our space charge solver takes into
account the space charge within a
charged particle beam or gas, secondary
emission from surfaces, gasses and
charge build-up on low-conductivity
materials. Interactions between
multispecies charged and neutral particles
in a volume containing gaseous material
can also be modelled, including ionization.
Permanent magnets
Accurately simulates actual
magnetization/demagnetization process
including temperature effects, and allows
magnet models to be further simulated
in operating environments.
Lossy dielectrics
Static and time-varying solver
add-ons for low-conductivity dielectric
materials such as those used for
insulation in power transmission.
External circuits environment
Allows graphical definition of circuits
driving the electromagnetic model, with
facilities for current or position sensing,
as well as advanced state machines.
Magnetic hysteresis modelling
To predict the losses and field changes
caused by material hysteresis.
Post-processing of results...
After the simulation is complete Opera’s
post-processor simplifies the analysis of the
results. As well as displaying the field,
temperature or stress, there are numerous
functions to prepare and display derived
quantities in forms and units familiar to the
user (including forces, power loss, stored
energy), and also to compute and display
particle trajectories through the computed
electric and magnetic fields.
Accelerate routine designs
Opera allows you to set up ‘macros’,
to automate your design process.
You can create, run and analyse your
designs with user-defined dialogs and
menus for inputting dimensions, material
properties and simulation options.
Elements of models can be saved to form
a library of component parts. If these
parts are saved in parameterized form,
key dimensions can easily be set giving
you the means to rapidly produce and
analyse variants of models.
... and optimization of designs
Refining designs is easy. You can manually
change parameters, rebuild your
model and view the effects.
This action can be performed automatically
using our optional Optimizer module.
This tool is extremely powerful, and
incorporates a number of algorithms
that are automatically chosen
depending on the problem.
Optimization problems can be set
up in minutes, and the computer
left to work out the best
solution for one,
or multiple, goals. The
Optimizer can save an
enormous amount of the
normal design effort needed
to realise a company’s design
goals – whether they are
lowest cost, highest
performance, simplest
manufacture, smallest size
(or other parameter).
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Opera
Faster design for your application
Power conversion and electromechanical devices
Opera Machines Environment
Motor and generator models can be rapidly
generated and analysed using parameterized
templates. Standard design calculations
can be performed to obtain useful results
such as back emf, cogging torque, torque
vs speed, open and short-circuit curves. The
2d Environment can be used with the Opera
Optimizer to refine and optimize designs
based on user requirements. Uniquely,
both the 2d and 3d Machines Environment
can be customized by the user to meet
their own design requirements.
Linear motors,
actuators
and position
sensors
Opera’s transient
eddy current solver,
which includes
the effects of motion offers very powerful,
field-proven facilities for designing moving
systems including actuators, linear motors,
loudspeakers and suspension systems.
Simulink® co-simulation
Opera-2d and Opera-3d can be linked
directly to the industry-standard Simulink®
software to co-simulate the transient
perfomance of the complete drive or
electromechanical system. A dedicated
Opera ‘block’ can be configured by the user
to co-simulate any type of electrical machine
or linear motion device as an integral part of
an overall system.
Motors and generators
Opera’s parameterized modelling speeds
design and optimization. It provides a truly
comprehensive solution for creating standard
products and exploring new design
concepts, because of features such as:
Motional solvers including user-defined
mechanical load behaviour
Closely-coupled electrical circuits
enabling standard star & delta
connections to be defined
Power supply control including soft
switching, current and position feedback
Modelling of skewed structures within
motional solvers
Power systems
Losses and interference
Transformer and
Reactor Environment
The electromagnetic field surrounding
shielded cables can be calculated using Opera.
Distribution loses in the cables and shields can
be predicted and minimized by optimization.
Exposure levels to electromagnetic fields
can be determined and reduced to satisfy
the latest international standards.
Insulation and grounding
Grounding grids in complex soil structures
can be modelled using Opera, to predict
step and touch voltages. The specialized
modules for modelling lossy dielectrics can
also be used to design stress-reduction
coatings used on high-voltage insulators.
A powerful environment for transformers
and reactors that allows designers to build
complete devices in minutes. Operating
characteristics such as open circuit,
short circuit in-rush currents and mutual
inductances are standard outputs.
This environment can be used
with the Opera optimizer
to refine designs and
optimize performance
against user
requirements.
Simulink® is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc
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Signatures, NDT and EMC
Non-destructive testing (NDT)
Finding small cracks in metallic materials
for safety-critical applications is often
achieved using electromagnetic methods.
Opera assists designers of eddy current
and other electromagnetic NDT probes to
optimize performance by giving accurate
response characteristics as the probe
sweeps past the defect.
Magnetic signature
Magnetic signatures due to the remnant
magnetization of a naval vessel, or from
eddy currents induced by the vessel’s
movement in the earth’s magnetic field can
be accurately predicted. Opera can also be
used to model and optimize de-gaussing
systems and cathodic protection systems.
EMC
The low-frequency EMC design of devices
and systems can be investigated using Opera,
including the effects of shielding and field
migration. The picture shows a model of an
electrified railway system, which was part
of a study to investigate EMC on buildings
that were to be built close to a railway line.
Opera allowed the complex infrastructure to
be modelled before building started, and was
used to evaluate and refine design features
introduced to mitigate stray fields from power
supply, track loop and signalling equipment.
Medical physics and science applications
X-ray tubes
Plasma devices
MRI magnets
Accurately model space charge effects in
quasi-static electromagnetic fields, for
instance: electron beams generated from a
thermionic cathode as they are accelerated
in an X-ray tube before colliding with the
anode. Multiphysics simulations will model
effects caused by charging, as a result of
current flow in imperfect dielectrics and
secondary electron emmission.
Capabilities to simulate interactions between
charged and neutral particles in a
background gas provide the detailed physical
processes necessary to simulate the
formation of plasmas and detailed models of
ion-beam devices. This picture shows a
forced electron-beam-induced arc discharge
(FEBIAD) ion source based on electron beam
generated plasma (EBGP) ion source.
Coils can be modelled exactly and their fields
calculated by integration to extremely high
accuracy. Non-linear magnetic materials are
modelled using finite elements, with the coils
embedded in the mesh. This combination of
integral and finite element methods makes
the software ideal for analysing MRI magnets.
Electron microscopy/lithography
Opera’s flexible finite element mesh
algorithms support the accurate design of
systems ranging from nanometre-sized field
emitters to a complete column consisting of
many lenses. Error fields introduced by eddy
currents caused by in-lens deflection coils
can be modelled.
Superconducting coils
Opera contains a
unique thermal and
electromagnetic
multiphysics simulation
of the quench in coils as they
change from superconducting to
normal. The coils may be co-simulated
with protection circuitry and eddy currents
in support structure and formers.
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Software for
Electromagnetic Design
Cobham Technical Services
Vector Fields Software
The most important thing we build is trust
The Opera software has been leading the way in electromagnetic design and
analysis for more than two decades. Opera is easy to use, accurate and capable
of delivering results quickly. We are renowned for the excellent support that
we provide to existing and potential customers. So, if you need electromagnetic
design software do not hesitate to contact us.
Cobham Technical Services
Vector Fields Software
UK
24 Bankside, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1JE, UK
T: +44 (0) 1865 370151
E: vectorfields.info@cobham.com
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USA
1700 N Farnsworth Avenue,
Aurora IL 60505, USA
T: +1 630 851 1734
E: vectorfieldsinc.info@cobham.com
www.cobham.com/technicalservices
www.motor-design-software.com
www.charged-particle-software.com
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