InCa3D
by CEDRAT
CONDUCTOR IMPEDANCE & NEAR FIELD SIMULATION
InCa3D is a ground-breaking simulation software for low &
medium frequency dedicated to electrical interconnection
modeling. This tool addresses both electromagnetic
compatibility and power electronics applications.
Efficient low & medium
frequency component design
Based on the innovative and very efficient PEEC (Partial
Element Equivalent Circuit) method, InCa3D is well suited for
modeling the behavior of almost any kind of connections,
providing RLC extraction and generation of equivalent
circuit. InCa3D is reputed to perform fast and accurate
computations.
To respect the time-to-market requirements and to
comply with the product’s specifications, the virtual
prototyping of electrical interconnections has to be
performed from the early design stages by means of
accurate, robust and well-adapted simulation tools,
able to interact with each other.
Within its integrated design environment, including its Pythonbased command language, its ability to exchange data and
results with other simulation tools in a friendly Graphical User
Interface, InCa3D fulfils engineers’ needs. It can also be easily
integrated in the design flow of their process.
Moreover InCa3D is very easy to understand and at the same
time flexible enough to ensure scalability.
InCa3D is a useful tool to perform stray inductance
optimization for power modules. It is a great
help for busbar optimization also.
Ole Mühlfeld - University of Kiel - Institute for Power Electronics and
Electrical Drives
Main advantages
» Ability to model big & complex geometries (long and/
or flat conductors) to overtake the finite element method
limitations.
» No mesh of the air needed, to save memory and accelerate
the solving.
» Reduced computation time allowing sensitivity analysis
and optimization.
 Switchboards / switchgears
Fuses
Cables
 Grounding systems
Busbars
 Power modules / power converters
PCB boards
Systems
CAD imports
• CATIA
• Pro/Engineer
• IGES
• STEP
ECAD imports
Inputs
Thermal
• Icepak
InCa3D
by CEDRAT
• Gerber
Driving InCa3D
• Python
• With API
• Excel / VB script
Optimization
GOT-It
by CEDRAT
Software interoperability.
Main features
» An easy and fast geometry description
- Import of the most common geometry formats
(STEP and IGES) and native files from CATIA and Pro/E.
- Automatic healing of the imported geometry to avoid
defaults linked to mechanical data in the imported file.
- Tools to modify and simplify the 3D imported geometries or the layouts (sketcher 2D) to facilitate and optimize
the meshing.
- Import of Gerber files from the most common and popular EDA tools from Altium, Cadence, Mentor Graphics, Zuken,
etc.
Numerous applications
• Portunus
• SABER
• Modelica
• SPICE
• VHDL-AMS
Modeling of a
power module.
Outputs
» An automatic meshing generation
- Robust and automatic algorithms for the best mesh definition: an easy mesh generator automatically adapted to the
geometry and the frequency for accurate evaluation of skin
and proximity effects.
- Only the conductors are meshed, to speed-up the solving.
» Fast multiple parametric simulations
- An embedded fully parametric solver allowing geometrical or physical parameter sweeps.
- A fundamental help for engineers to optimize the
performances of the considered system.
- A frequency-domain PEEC solver accelerated by the
FMM (Fast Multipole Method) dedicated to complex models.
» Export to system-level simulators
- Synthesis of RLC equivalent macro-models:
▪▪ For the most common circuit solvers (SABER,
Portunus,…).
▪▪ In the most advanced standard formats (SPICE, Modelica
and VHDL-AMS).
▪▪ Ability to export impedance matrix to analyse in MATLAB
/ Simulink® or equivalent software.
- Inclusion of the parasitic effects of interconnections in
time-domain functional models for transient simulations.
» Very powerful post-processing capabilities
- High-quality viewer for displaying, analyzing or exporting
results to focus on their analysis and model comparisons.
- State-of-the-art algorithms to quickly compute equivalent
impedances of the conductors, current distribution, Joule
losses, radiated magnetic fields and Laplace forces.
» Optimization - Search the design space in an efficient
way
- Coupling with GOT-It optimization tool in order to
optimize the electromagnetic performances of the product
to be designed, while respecting constraints imposed by
standards and/or other technical areas, such as mechanical
or thermal.
▪▪ Minimization of the inductance
▪▪ Joule losses reduction
▪▪ Lowering of the radiated field to respect the standards
Modeling of a PCB using the Gerber import functionality.
» Simulation Process Automation - An easy control for
your specific needs
With its command language derived from the well known
Java and Python object oriented languages, InCa3D allows
the user to define its own macros and interfaces to
simplify its work, from generating geometry through to
post-processing solution results.
- Thanks to its API, it can also be driven by any kind of
software.
Consulting / Services
Lack of competence? Temporary overloaded department?
Missing software know-how? Improvement on methodology
needed? CEDRAT provides consulting and computation
services.
A team of experienced design engineers is available to create,
design or optimize innovative solutions. If you are interested
in contracting our consulting services, please contact us or
visit our website.
References
Schneider Electric, Mersen, Safran, Semikron, BHEL, Schneider
Toshiba Inverter Europe, TU Dresden, Ampere Laboratory,
G2Elab, Lille University, Microspire, Enika, IRSEEM, MEDHA,
EDF, General Electric, DENSO, Silec Cable, ETH Zürich...
Current distribution in cable supplying a variable
speed driver.
MAGSOFT
for Americas & Asia
www.magsoft-flux.com
CEDRAT S.A.
15 chemin de Malacher • Inovallée
38246 MEYLAN CEDEX • FRANCE
Phone: +33 (0)4 76 90 50 45
Fax: +33 (0)4 56 38 08 30
Email: cedrat@cedrat.com
CEDRAT
for Europe & the Middle East
[ www.cedrat.com ]
www.cedrat.com
Copyright CEDRAT March 2016
Modeling of a 3-phased
panel board.