A CAD and optimization program for networks containing magnetic nonlinearities

A modified harmonic-balance algorithm is applied to obtain the steady-state solution for networks with nonlinear magnetic elements. The method is employed in a CAD (computer-aided design) program allowing the design and optimization of these networks. By means of a special iteration technique, a very fast calculation is achieved. The basic idea is demonstrated for the example of a soft magnetic toroid core treated as a nonlinear element. The very fast determination of the steady-state and the uncritical convergence make it possible to implement this algorithm even in optimization processes where many circuits with different parameters must be calculated (e.g., evolution or statistical procedures)