This project focused on the design of magnetic shielding in a transformer station. Due to high currents in the cables of a transformer station, large magnetic fields are generated. To prevent health-relevant interactions with magnetic fields, there are exposure limits for magnetic fields in public areas. For 50 Hz – which is the frequency that is used for wall power – the maximum allowed magnetic field is 100 µT. Without magnetic shielding, the magnetic field strength on the outside of the transformer station reached levels above this exposure limit. Therefore, we designed magnetic shielding to reduce the magnetic field strength in the area around the transformer station that is publicly accessible.
magnetic fields
designing magnetic shielding.
Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we performed a 3D simulation of the magnetic fields generated by the electrical cables in the station. The transformer itself was excluded from the simulation, as it is magnetically shielded and is considered to not ‘leak’ any magnetic field. We calculated a current distribution along the cable segments and used this as boundary condition to calculate the magnetic field. First without shielding, and later we included shielding.
The shielding consists of aluminium plates, which were applied to part of one side of the inner wall of the transformer station. The dimensions of the shielding were varied to determine the amount of shielding material required to sufficiently reduce the magnetic field on the outside of the transformer station. With the help of these simulations, we were able to design effective magnetic shielding that reducing the magnetic flux density below the exposure limit, in the desired area.
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Demcon multiphysics.
Demcon multiphysics is an engineering agency with high-end expertise in the area of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, acoustics, electromagnetism and nuclear physics. We support clients from a wide variety of market sectors and help them achieve their goals in research and development with deep physical insights.
We combine fundamental physical knowledge from an analytical approach with Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) simulations tools from ANSYS, MATHWORKS, COMSOL, STAR-CCM+ and FLUKA to setup, execute, analyze and evaluate numerical simulations. The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEM / FEA), Lumped Element Modelling (LEM), Computational Electromagnetics (CEM) and Monte Carlo simulations enables us to make a virtual prototype of your design. With these techniques we can simulate the fluid and gas flows, energy exchange, heat and mass transfer, stresses, strains and vibrations in structures and the interaction of electromagnetic fields with other physical aspects like heat generation. Simulation-driven product development increases the development efficiency and reduces the product development time. Our services can therefore fully support you in the designing phase, from idea up to prototype, from prototype to final design.
