ShapeOpt is a free program that optimizes the shape of a high-frequency
inductor winding to achieve lower power losses, written by Jiankun Hu,
Charles Sullivan, Rob Jensen, Dan Gestwick, and Reid Hutchins.
Typical inductor designs fill as much of the bobbin as possible to
decrease dc resistance. However, it is undesirable to place wire close
to the core gap, because the high fringing B field in this region can
lead to excessive eddy current losses. Shapeopt finds the optimal
placement of the wire such that total power loss is minimized.
Using this method, it is possible to achieve lower power losses than
in a distributed or quasi-distributed gap design. First, the
program calculates the field due to the gap and the windings using the
image method (2-D analysis). Finite-element analysis has shown
that this two-dimensional analysis is very accurate. Finding the shape
for minimum loss requires an optimization because changing the wire
placement will change the field in the whole window. For more
information about the specialized algorithm used, see related papers and publications.
What Software Do I Need and How Do I Run It?
There are two versions of ShapeOpt. The web-based
version runs the calculations on our web server. The downloadable
version is for use with MATLAB
Version 5 or 6, available from Mathworks for a variety of platforms. The two have similar
capabilities, but the downloadable version has a few more options and
allows watching the optimization process as it progresses.
Run
ShapeOpt online.
Download ShapeOpt for use with MATLAB software. The directory the
shapeopt.m file is placed in must be on the Matlab path in order to run it from the Matlab command window.
Help and Instructions
Dartmouth Magnetic Component and Power Electronics
Research
