A combined vector potential-scalar potential method for FE computation of 3D magnetic fields in electrical devices with iron cores

A method of combined use of magnetic vector potential based finite-element (FE) formulations and magnetic scalar potential (MSP) based formulations for computation of three-dimensional magnetostatic fields is introduced. In this method, the curl-component of the magnetic field intensity is computed by a reduced magnetic vector potential. This field intensity forms the basis of a forcing function for a global magnetic scalar potential solution over the entire volume of the region. This method allows one to include iron portions sandwiched in between conductors within partitioned current-carrying subregions. The method is most suited to large-scale global-type 3D magnetostatic field computations in electrical devices, and in particular rotating electric machinery.