Flux e-Machine Toolbox: Export for Twin Activate / PSIM

Introduction

A new type of Export is available in FEMT: *.mat format to export Lookup tables for PSIM or Twin Activate Altair software.

This allows you to create a System model of your complete drive systems including power electronics and your motor that is represented by an usual speed and current control Reduced Order Model that uses Look Up Table parameters (Flux_D, Flux_Q, inductances, ...).

The mat export is available if the following two conditions are met:
  • The test has been computed with the MS-mono-position computation mode.
    Note: With the TM computation mode, the mat export is not available, but it is possible to change the computation mode and choose the MS mono-position computation mode, then run the test again.
  • The test has been run with a FeMT version greater than or equal to 2023.0.
    Note: If the test was run with a version prior to 2023.0, it is possible to re-run the test with a FeMT version greater than or equal to 2023.0.

Steps

To export the Lookup tables computed in FEMT:

  1. Open your FEMT component previously computed with the MS mono-position computation mode
  2. Display the test by double_clicking on it

    → the test is displayed in the central area and the ribbon bar of possible functions appears at the top

  3. Click on EXPORT

  4. Click on SYSTEM > LUT

    → the dialog box is opened to MAT export

    Note: The access to this dialog box can be also:
    • by clicking on the button Export (the button in the red rectangle below)

    • or Select the test and do a right click on the test and click on Export

  5. Choose the Destination Directory
  6. Choose a Name
  7. Validate the dialog box
    Two files have been created:
    • A .mat file has been created. It contains the lookup tables except the two lookup tables for iron losses and eddy current losses, which are not exported.
    • A .oml file has been created. It allows to display in Altair Compose the lookup tables except the two lookup tables for iron losses and eddy current losses, which cannot be displayed.

  8. Check the values and the maps in "Compose" (optional)

    1. double-click in the *.oml file

      → Compose is opened and the *.oml file is opened

    2. run the *.oml by clicking on the Start button :

      → the maps are displayed

  9. Use the *.mat file in a model in Twin Activate or PSIM

PSIM use case

To evaluate the performance of your motor drive systems, PSIM Motor Drive Modules can be used to model a Speed or Torque control strategies of your motor.

  1. There are two PMSM (IPM) Drive (Flux) templates that are used for speed or torque control of the motor. These schemes use the mat files coming from FeMT as an input to compute the evolution of currents, torque and power for a given power electronic system.

  2. The second template uses the mat file coming from FeMT to compute efficiency maps of the complete driving system considering the inverter effects. Various PWM schemes can be selected to compute the efficiency maps.

Twin Activate use case

To evaluate the performance of your motor drive systems, Altair Twin Activate ElectricDrive Library can be used to model speed or torque control strategies of your motor for permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM).

The ElectricDrive Library for Altair Twin Activate is a collection of block libraries, scripts/macros, and example models to help build system models for an electric motor (e-motor) and drive systems, in particular for a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) based on field-oriented control (FOC), as shown below:

The ElectricDrive library supports block libraries and workflows to easily build system models based on e-motor models from Altair Flux(electromagnetic) and Altair FluxMotorsolutions.

Block Library

The extension supports five categories of components as shown below:

  • Drive: Components for building drive system (speed, current controllers, etc)
  • Machines: Components for building electric machines
    Note: Currently only permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) supported

  • Mechanical: Components for building mechanical systems connected to machines

  • UsersGuide: Components to access documentation about the extension

  • Utilities: Miscellaneous supporting components (e.g., Park/Clarke Transforms, Steady-State Detection algorithms, etc.)

For more information, please see documentation delivered within Electric Drive library including a Getting Started guide and tutorial. ElectricDrive library is available for download on Altair One with registered account. Altair Twin Activate Business Edition (non-Personal) is required.