Wireless Power Transfer 

using Maxwell and Simplorer
Zed (Zhangjun) Tang
Mark Christini
Takahiro Koga
ANSYS, Inc.
 Wireless Power Supply System for EV
• Inductive type
Inductive type(~15W) Inductive type(~50kW)
100%

Maxwell
Efficiency

50%
Simplorer
Resonance type

Battery
Rectifier/Charger

AC Secondary Coil
0% Power Cable
1mm        1cm         10cm         1m          10m         100m
Primary Coil
Inverter
Ref: EE Times Japan 2009.10 Transfer Distance Capacitor
Geometry
 Schematic

20kW @ 400V/20kHz

Core
Secondary Coil

Shield Plate Coil Primary Coil

 Magnetic Core
Materials • Material : FDK 6H40 (Bs=0.53T, μi=2400)
Winding Coil
• Litz wire : 0.25φ × 384 parallel turns
• Conductivity : 5.8×107[S/m]
• Primary : 10 turns
• Secondary : 5 turns

Secondary 400mm
330mm
90mm

Primary

90mm
410mm
500mm
Electromechanical Design Flow
ANSYS CFD Simplorer
Thermal System Design RMxprt
Motor Design
IA PMSYNC Torque J

A A D2D

IB ICA:
A
PP := 6
IC
A

GAIN

Q3D
Parasitics
Optimization PExprt
Magnetics

ANSYS 
Maxwell
Mechanical Electromagnetic Components
Thermal/Stress
Model order Reduction

Co-simulation

Field Solution

Model Generation
Maxwell ‐ Introduction
• Solves 2-D and 3-D electromagnetic
field problems using FEA
• Five Solution Types: Electrostatic,
Magnetostatic, Eddy Current,
Transient Electric, Transient Magnetic
• Determines R,L,C, forces, torques,
losses, saturation, time-induced
effects
• Simulation of: Power Magnetics,
Inductors, Transformers, Motors, 
Generators, Actuators, Bus bars
• Co-simulation with Simplorer
• Direct link from PExprt, RMxprt
• Direct link to ANSYS Mechanical
Simplorer ‐ Introduction
Circuits
• Three Basic Simulation Types:
• Circuits N0002
R1 50
C1
R2 1k R3 1k
C2
R4
50

3.3u
• Block Diagrams 12 3.3u
V0 := 5
N0004
N0003 V0 := 0
• State Machines N0005

• Multi‐domain simulator for electrical, 
magnetic, mechanical, fluid, and thermal 
Block 
systems Diagrams I_PART_id
• Integrated analysis with EM tools (Maxwell,  I
CONST
UL := 9
PExprt, Q3D, RMxprt, HFSS) and thermal  LL := ‐9 P_PART_id id_ref
id

tools (ANSYS CFD, ANSYS Icepack) LIMIT

yd
GAIN

KP := 0.76
G(s)

GS2
GAIN

• Co‐simulation with Maxwell and Simulink State 
SUM2_6

• Optimization and Statistical analysis  Machines
• VHDL‐AMS capability SET: CS1:=-1
IMP = 0 and RLine.I <= ILOW
SET: CS1:=-1
SET: CS2:=-1 SET: CS2:=1
SET: CS3:=-1 SET: CS3:=-1
SET: CS4:=-1 SET: CS4:=-1
IMP = 0 and RLine.I >= IUP

IMP = 1 IMP = 0
IMP = 0 IMP = 1

SET: CS1:=1 IMP = 1 and RLine.I <= ILOW SET: CS1:=-1

SET: CS2:=-1 SET: CS2:=-1
SET: CS3:=-1 SET: CS3:=-1
SET: CS4:=-1 SET: CS4:=-1
IMP = 1 and RLine.I >= IUP
Solution Flow Chart
• Maxwell + Simplorer
Gap
Sliding
Maxwell
Magnetostatic
Core, Winding

Maxwell
Eddy Current Simplorer
Impedance Model
AC / TR
Maxwell Circuit / Drive / Controller design
Eddy Current Waveform, Efficiency, Power 
factor, Response
Fields, Losses
Maxwell / Magnetostatic
• L, M, k : 
• Self Inductance
• Mutual Inductance
• Coupling Coefficient

L2
M
L1 L1   M
M    L2

k=0.54
Maxwell / Magnetostatic
Core Shape/Material
Inductance L, M
Number of turns
Coupling factor k
Current Amp.
Field
Gap
Core saturation

Coupling - k 3D_Static_sliding_k ANSOFT

1.00

Curve Info
Matrix1.CplCoef(Current_1,Current_2)
Setup1 : LastAdaptive
0.80 Gap='50mm'

Matrix1.CplCoef(Current_1,Current_2)
Matrix1.CplCoef(Current_1,Current_2)
Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Gap='100mm'
Matrix1.CplCoef(Current_1,Current_2)
0.60 Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Gap='150mm'
Matrix1.CplCoef(Current_1,Current_2)
Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Gap='200mm'
0.40

Mag B
0.20

0.00
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00 160.00
Sliding [mm]

Coupling factor k – sliding gap
 Maxwell / Magnetostatic
Verification for core saturation: M  k L1 L2

X: Gap [mm] / Y: Input Current [A] / Color: Mutual inductance [nH]

Mutual Inductance L12 2D_Static ANSOFT Mutual Inductance L12 2D_Static_BH ANSOFT
1000 1.00

Matrix1.L(C Matrix1.L(C
[nH] [nH]

3.4200e+004 3.4200e+004
2.8500e+004 2.8500e+004

100 2.2800e+004 0.10 2.2800e+004

1.7100e+004 1.7100e+004

Specification Area Specification Area
Gap [meter]
Gap [mm]

1.1400e+004 1.1400e+004
5.7000e+003 5.7000e+003
0.0000e+000 0.0000e+000

10 0.01

Saturation
1 0.00
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00
Current [A] Current [A]

Linear Material Nonlinear Material
(Initial permeability) (BH curve)
 0.60

0.50

Maxwell / Magnetostatic
0.40

B (tesla)
• Verification for core saturation
0.30
Nonlinear BH curve
0.20

• Core’s BH curve, Mag_B field plot 0.10

• No magnetic saturation 0.00
0.00 100.00 200.00 300.00 400.00
H (A_per_meter)

Mutual Inductance L12 2D_Static_BH ANSOFT

1.00

Matrix1.L(C
[nH]

3.4200e+004
2.8500e+004

0.10 2.2800e+004

Specification Area 1.7100e+004

Gap [meter]
1.1400e+004
5.7000e+003
0.0000e+000

~0.4T 0.01

0.00
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00
Current [A]

Maximum point : 0.26T
Maxwell / Eddy Current
• State Space Modeling for Simplorer
• Frequency domain impedance(R,L) model for circuit simulation

• AC fields and Losses (after circuit simulation)
Maxwell / Eddy Current Solver
AC Characteristics
Core Shape/Material Inductance L, M
Number of turns Coupling factor k
Frequency Field
Gap Core Hysteresis
Shield Shape/Material Shield

Core(Power Ferrite)

Shield Plate (Aluminum)
No Shielding Shielding
Simplorer with Maxwell State Space Model

AC / Frequency domain TR / Time domain
Efficiency Map
• Output/Input Power
• Tuned capacitance for each conditions
• Blue valley vs sliding indicates poor design 
(coil too small)

P  VI cos  Max.96%

Pout 90%
  100%
Pin
Efficiency[%] 50%

Gap
20%
Sliding

Gap [mm] Sliding [mm]
 Maxwell – Simplorer System Simulation
THREE_PHASE1 IGBT1 D1 IGBT3 D3
D5 D7 D9
3PHAS WM1 WM2
+ Cs R1 R2 +
A * sin (2 * pi * f * t + PHI + phi_u)
Current_1:src D11 D13
PHI = 0°
W Current_2:src W
Rload
~ 1.72uF
7.2mOhm 3.6mOhm

13ohm
Current_1:snk
PHI = -120° Current_2:snk
Cp C2
~ C1
4.96uF 1uF
1000uF
PHI = -240°
~ IGBT2 D2 IGBT4 D4 D12 D14
- +
D6 D8 D10 Battery

LBATT_A1

0 Wireless Power Transformer Battery 0

AC400V Rectify Inverter Curve Info rms

700.00 WM1.V
0 TR 281.0066

PWR_Probe1 WM2.V
TR 321.9453
TRANS1
TRANS2
PWR
STATE_11_1 STATE_11_2
Probe
FML_INIT1 200.00
ICA:

Y1 [V]
Modulation_Index:=0 PWR_Probe2
Carrier_Freq:=20k SET: TSV4:=1 SET: TSV4:=0
Frequency:=20k SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL < TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=0 DT1 PWR
SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=0 Probe -300.00
Dead_Time:=2u SET: TSV1:=1 SET: TSV1:=0
DC_Source:=400 DEL: DT1##Dead_Time
SINE1
TRANS3
TRANS4
AMPL=Modulation_Index
FREQ=Frequency
STATE_11_4
Controller STATE_11_3
-800.00
2.00 2.20 2.40
Time [ms]
2.60 2.80 3.00

TRIANG1
SET: TSV4:=0 SET: TSV4:=0
DT4 SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL > TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=1
AMPL=1
FREQ=Carrier_Freq SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=1
SET: TSV1:=0 SET: TSV1:=0
DEL: DT4##Dead_Time 150.00 Curve Info rms
WM1.I
TR 41.6165

250.00 Curve Info Y Axis873.02

rms 100.00 WM2.I
TR 34.8648
WM1.I
TR Y1 38.9542

WM2.I 500.00 50.00

125.00 TR Y1 34.1140

WM1.V
Y1 [A]

TR Y2 276.0822
Y1 [A]

Y2 [V]

0.00 0.00
0.00 -0.0037 WM2.V
TR Y2 316.6292
-40.2840 -53.6971
-64.8250 -315.0105 -319.5653
-408.7847 -377.1247 -50.00
-125.00 -500.00

-100.00
-250.00 -1000.00
2.900 2.925 2.950 2.975 3.000
Time [ms]
-150.00
MX1: 2.9200 0.0610 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00
MX2: 2.9811 Time [ms]
 Maxwell – Simplorer System Simulation
THREE_PHASE1 IGBT1 D1 IGBT3 D3
D5 D7 D9
3PHAS WM1 WM2
+ Cs R1 R2 +
A * sin (2 * pi * f * t + PHI + phi_u)
Current_1:src D11 D13
PHI = 0°
W Current_2:src W
Rload
~ 1.72uF
7.2mOhm 3.6mOhm

13ohm
Current_1:snk
PHI = -120° Current_2:snk
Cp C2
~ C1
4.96uF 1uF
1000uF
PHI = -240°
~ IGBT2 D2 IGBT4 D4 D12 D14
- +
D6 D8 D10 Battery

LBATT_A1

0 Wireless Power Transformer Battery 0

AC400V Rectify Inverter Curve Info rms

700.00 WM1.V
0 TR 281.0066

PWR_Probe1 WM2.V
TR 321.9453
TRANS1
TRANS2
PWR
STATE_11_1 STATE_11_2
Probe
FML_INIT1 200.00
ICA:

Y1 [V]
Modulation_Index:=0 PWR_Probe2
Carrier_Freq:=20k SET: TSV4:=1 SET: TSV4:=0
Frequency:=20k SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL < TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=0 DT1 PWR
SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=0 Probe -300.00
Dead_Time:=2u SET: TSV1:=1 SET: TSV1:=0
DC_Source:=400 DEL: DT1##Dead_Time
SINE1
TRANS3
TRANS4
AMPL=Modulation_Index
FREQ=Frequency
STATE_11_4
Controller STATE_11_3
-800.00
2.00 2.20 2.40
Time [ms]
2.60 2.80 3.00

TRIANG1
SET: TSV4:=0 SET: TSV4:=0
DT4 SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL > TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=1
AMPL=1
FREQ=Carrier_Freq SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=1
SET: TSV1:=0 SET: TSV1:=0
DEL: DT4##Dead_Time 150.00 Curve Info rms
WM1.I
TR 41.6165

250.00 Curve Info Y Axis873.02

rms 100.00 WM2.I
TR 34.8648
WM1.I
TR Y1 38.9542

WM2.I 500.00 50.00

125.00 TR Y1 34.1140

WM1.V
Y1 [A]

TR Y2 276.0822
Y1 [A]

Y2 [V]

0.00 0.00
0.00 -0.0037 WM2.V
TR Y2 316.6292
-40.2840 -53.6971
-64.8250 -315.0105 -319.5653
-408.7847 -377.1247 -50.00
-125.00 -500.00

-100.00
-250.00 -1000.00
2.900 2.925 2.950 2.975 3.000
Time [ms]
-150.00
MX1: 2.9200 0.0610 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00
MX2: 2.9811 Time [ms]
Simplorer:  Design Driver Controller in a 
System Level Simulation

AC/TR Response
Circuit Waveform
Driver Efficiency
Controller
Back to Maxwell: Core Hysteresis Loss Using the 
Current Amplitude and Phase from Simplorer

Considering Magnetic Loss tangent

     j 
  1  j tan  
Primary

Core Loss 3D_Eddy ANSOFT

Secondary Core1st_Loss Core2nd_Loss
Freq [kHz] Setup1 : LastAdaptive Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Phase='0deg' Phase='0deg'
1 20.000000 0.909102 0.313144

Core loss[W]
Hysteresis Loss 
Back to Maxwell: Shield Surface Loss Using the 
Current Amplitude and Phase from Simplorer

Key Point:
Impedance boundary BC

Shield Loss 3D_Eddy ANSOFT

Shield1st_Loss Shield2nd_Loss
Freq [kHz] Setup1 : LastAdaptive Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Phase='0deg' Phase='0deg'
1 20.000000 22.938675 37.886583

Shield Loss[W]
Primary Secondary
Surface Loss
Back to Maxwell: Field Solution Using the 
Current Amplitude and Phase from Simplorer
XY Plot 1 2D_Eddy ANSOFT
10.00

Curve Info
Mag_B
1.00 Setup1 : LastAdaptive
Freq='20kHz' Phase='0deg'

Mag_B [mTesla]
0.10

0.01

0.00 Distance

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00
Distance [meter]

Magnetic Field Density

Distance

Magnetic Field Intensity
Back to Maxwell and Link to HFSS
• Maxwell → HFSS Dynamic Link
• Magnetic source solved by Maxwell and Link to HFSS field solution
• Far Field and Large Area electromagnetic solution
• HFSS can handle a car body object as 2D sheet object

Maxwell

HFSS
Back to Maxwell and Link to HFSS
• Maxwell → HFSS Dynamic Link
• Magnetic source solved by Maxwell and Link to HFSS field solution
• Far Field and Large Area electromagnetic solution
• HFSS can handle a car body object as 2D sheet object

Maxwell

HFSS
Thermal /Stress Analysis using Workbench
• Maxwell 3D Eddy 
Current losses can be 
imported directly to 
ANSYS steady‐state 
thermal and stress 
solver for mechanical 
analysis
Conclusion
• Wireless power transfer for HEV/EV’s can easily be simulated 
with ANSYS electromagnetic and circuit simulation tools.
• The full solutions requires a system level approach. 
• ANSYS Products can also support multi‐physics simulation, 
such as combined Thermal / Structure for mechanical analysis.

THREE_PHASE1 IGBT1 D1 IGBT3 D3

D5 D7 D9

3PHAS WM1
Cs
WM2
R1 R2
A * sin (2 * pi * f * t + PHI + phi_u) + +
Current_1st_1:src D11
D11 D13
D13
PHI = 0°
W Current_2nd_1:src W
Rload
Rload
~ 1.93uF
(1/87-0.004) ohm
Current_2nd_1:snk (1/348-0.001) ohm
Current_1st_1:snk 10ohm
10ohm

PHI = -120° Current_1st_2:src Cp C2C2

~ C1
Current_2nd_2:src
Current_2nd_2:snk 5.24uF 1e-006farad
1e-006farad
Current_1st_2:snk
1000uF
PHI = -240°
~ IGBT2 D2 IGBT4 D4 D12
D12 D14
D14
- - ++
D6 D8 D10 Battery
Battery

LBATT_A1
LBATT_A1

0 00

0 40.00 Curve Info rms

WM1.I 9.4139
TRANS1 TR
TRANS2 WM2.I
STATE_11_1 STATE_11_2 TR 10.5939

FML_INIT1 20.00
ICA:

Modulation_Index:=0
Carrier_Freq:=10k SET: TSV4:=1 SET: TSV4:=0
Frequency:=10k
Y1 [A]

SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL < TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=0 DT1

SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=0 0.00
Dead_Time:=2u
SET: TSV1:=1 SET: TSV1:=0
DC_Source:=200
DEL: DT1##Dead_Time
SINE1
TRANS3
TRANS4 -20.00
AMPL=Modulation_Index STATE_11_4 STATE_11_3
FREQ=Frequency

TRIANG1
-40.00
SET: TSV4:=0 SET: TSV4:=0 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00
DT4 SET: TSV3:=0 SINE1.VAL > TRIANG1.VAL SET: TSV3:=1 Time [ms]
AMPL=1
SET: TSV2:=0 SET: TSV2:=1
FREQ=Carrier_Freq
SET: TSV1:=0 SET: TSV1:=0
DEL: DT4##Dead_Time

300.00 Curve Info rms

WM1.V 154.9045
TR
40.00 Curve Info Y Axis 200.00
rms
WM2.V 120.2425
156.0455 WM1.I Y1 9.3501 TR
TR
131.1979
WM2.I Y1 10.5176
20.00 TR 100.00
100.00
WM1.V Y2 153.6594
TR
27.9814
Y1 [V]
Y1 [A]

Y2 [V]

WM2.V Y2 119.4615
0.00 -0.0090
-1.2036 1.3406
-0.5141T R 0.00
-6.0797

-100.00
-20.00 -100.00

-40.00 -200.00
1.90 1.92 1.94 1.96 1.98 2.00
Time [ms]
-300.00
MX1: 1.9753 0.0030 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00
MX2: 1.9783 Time [ms]
Wireless power supply implementation for 
electric vehicles batteries charging
Ing. Andrea Serra, Dott. Giovanni Falcitelli, Ing. Emiliano D’Alessandro
EnginSoft S.p.A.

Alfredo Sonnante
Vision s.r.l.
• Vision is a young consulting company specialized in design, management, promotion and
distribution of industrial systems and innovative technology infrastructures.
• It proposes and provides technologies and innovative services for enterprises, public
institutions and private users, through research programs with international partners and
pilot actions.
• In the automotive research framework, Vision promotes the E‐way® project, that is the
result of a collaboration between Vision and the Italian Region of Puglia. The latter
approved a measure of financial relief for the start‐up of innovative micro‐enterprises
(Regional Regulation Nr. 25 of 11.21.2008) .
• Vision mission is to innovate actual vehicles power chain, through power supply systems
based on WPT (Wireless Power Transfer).
E‐way® system consists of an electromagnetic carpet with emitters that can transfer power
to a collector placed under the car floor in order to charge its batteries WHILE the vehicle is
moving.

2) Emitters carpet
3) Asphalt layer
5) Car collector
6) Car batteries
Eway®: physical aspects

A more complex model needs to be

defined and more parameters can affect
simulations and correspondent results.

A “dynamic” approach must be

implemented in order to consider
electromechanical interactions.

Virtual prototyping should be based on a

transient to transient (Simplorer to
Maxwell) analysis in order to evaluate all
physic phenomena involved in this
application.
 Eway®: physical aspects

Current densities can be induced on the collector coil as a consequence of the

following separated and independent effects:

Motionless coupling Motion coupling
Alternate source currents in the emitters  The relative motion between the emitter and 
generate a time variant magnetic flux that  the collector concatenates a space variant 
concatenates with the collector (even if the  magnetic flux and generates the 
latter does not move). correspondent f.e.m.
 Eway®: numerical approach
In order to take in account both the time and space variations (AC and motion), the numerical analysis
should theoretically be carried on through a transient to transient with motion simulation
(Simplorer+Maxwell with motion).
However, in this case, the time stepping for the analysis should be fine enough to follow the much higher
frequency periodicity of the alternate current.

A possible Simplorer scheme for a transient to transient with motion analysis
 Eway®: numerical approach

A typical vehicle cruise speed, that is the relative speed between the emitter and the collector carpet, is
around 90km/h (25m/sec). This means that the induced current frequency is around 25Hz/de (where de is
the distance between two consecutive collector rows of the carpet).
If
• emitters and collectors have similar The frequency of the current induced by
size flux time variations and of the currents
• emitters are adjacent in the carpet induced by flux space variations are quite
• emitters’ alternate current are different.
more than 100Hz

Physic phenomena are frequency

decoupled and can be analyzed through
different numerical approaches.
 Eway®: numerical approach

Motionless coupling Motion coupling
A parametric, as a function of different position  A velocity driven mechanical transient analysis 
of the collector with respect to the carpet,  will be performed to evaluate the main 
transient analysis will be performed to evaluate  dynamic system performances.
the main stationary system performances.

Transient (Simplorer) to transient without  Transient (Simplorer) to transient with motion 
motion (Maxwell) system control. (Maxwell) system control.
 Eway®: sample results

Sample of the induced currents on a collector that moves at 90km/h over an “one row carpet” of emitters
placed at one meter distance each other.
Current amplitudes increase as soon as they cross one of the emitters’ section.
 Eway®: sample results
Sample of the induced currents on the collector that moves at 90km/h over an “one row carpet” of
emitters placed at one meter distance each other.
Current amplitudes increase as soon as they cross one of the emitters’ section.
 Eway®: sample results
Sample of the induced forces on the collector that moves at 90km/h (toward the x direction of the
coordinate system) over an “one row carpet” of emitters placed at one meter distance each other.
Current amplitudes increase as soon as they cross one of the emitters’ section.

Forces along the x direction are mainly

resistive and they oppose to the motion.
The correspondent power is dissipated and
cannot be collected.

Forces along the z direction do not

generate mechanical work but they suggest
that some energy can be collected toward
batteries. This behavior reflects the
alternator working principle, where the
primary winding is represented by the
planar carpet and the secondary winding is
represented by the collector.