Learning Forum

[cjqf67]

Hello, I am attempting to model a spherical permanent magnet generator in Ansys Maxwell and am relatively new to the software. The model, as pictured, works with a polyhedron (faceted cylinder) shaped band object but ideally I would use a spherically-shaped band object so that coils can wrap around the spherical face in a way which would intersect a polyhedron. I have had to import an icosphere as a step. file as there is no option for creating this shape in Maxwell (an icosphere is to a sphere what a polyheron is to a cylider - faceted). I am however coming to erros, namely with 'mesh mapping' when switching to using the icospherical band. From my research, this could be to do with the fact that the icosphere is comprised of many small triangles thus there is not a consistent angle between each facet as you go around the circumference, as there is with a polyhedron. I have also attempted to refine the icosphere by creating it with finer facets, this has been to no avail although I do have capacity to go finer if anyone thinks this could be worth pushing. Another consideration is the 'non-spherical rotation', I'm not sure if a spherical band would warrant this being enabled or not - the rotation is cylindrical as in about the central axis of the band, but I believe the mesh will be changing as it rotates due to the triangles (as opposed to nice, simple rectangles of a polyhedron. I'd really appreciate some help! Thank you

[MirandaH]

For rotational problems, the band object should be a solid cylinder or a solid wedge, spherical band is not an option.

[cjqf67]

Hi Miranda, thanks for your reply - is there any way you can think might help get around the problem? Would turning my spherical rotor into facets help? Could I make a motion band that is like a tiered cake with many thin tiers that fit in the airgap thus not a sphere but a collection of decreasing sized cylinders stuck on top of eachother..?

 

[MirandaH]

How does this machine rotate? Are those coils also rotate with the central sphere?

[cjqf67]

No, the coils are fixed, the sphere contains the rotor which rotates about the z axis. I have however managed to create a motion band that worked using several frustrums of different radii to fit within the airgap.