COMSOL FOR ELECTRICAL APPLICATIONS

A one day workshop on ‘COMSOL for Electrical Applications’ has been organized by COMSOL Multiphysics Pvt. Ltd on 18th December 2015 at ‘ Hansalya Building, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. Ms. Seema Narwal, Assistant Professor from Electronics & Communication Engineering Dept, Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon attended the event.

Computational physics has taken great leaps due to advanced computing architectures and efficient algorithms. COMSOL Multiphysics is one such software which solves multiphysics problems and is considered world leader in its domain.

Mr. Samarth Agarwal, Application Engineer and Mr. Avinash Chaudhary, Technical Engineer from COMSOL Multiphysics were the Key Speakers.

The objective of the workshop was:

1. To provide an introduction to the workflow and key features of COMSOL Multiphysics via a combination of hands-on examples, lectures and guided tutorials.

2. To provide an introduction to the structural mechanics and key features of semiconductor module via a combination of lectures, practicals and guided tutorials.

3. To learn the fundamental modeling steps in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2.

4. To learn application of COMSOL to problems in electromagnetics, RF and microwave heating and piezoelectric devices.

5. To experience a live multiphysics simulation example.

6. To set up and solve a simulation through a hands-on exercise.

Mr. Samarth Agarwal briefed the participants how to discover the software's capabilities, functionalities, and features. He told about the steps to learn the fundamental modeling to simulate various applications. He further added that COMSOL Applications provides a means for you to share your COMSOL models with anyone, anywhere in the world and it quickly convert your COMSOL models into Applications. He explained about how to design a user interface and add functionality to application with the Form Editor and Method Editor.

Mr. Avinash Chaudhary introduced the participants about the graphical user interface and its model builder, allowing efficient use and adaptation of the COMSOL models. He also gave a demo to experience the speed and ease of the work flow, shown through a multiphysics simulation example. He briefed about the utilization of the software in various research areas like:

1. AC/DC - This is used for simulating electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields in static and low-frequency applications. This helps to solve virtually all models that work under this module.

2. Acoustics -The Acoustics Module is used for simulating devices that produce, measure, and utilize acoustic waves. The application areas include speakers, microphones, hearing aids, and sonar devices, to name a few. Noise control can be addressed in muffler design, sound barriers, and building acoustic applications.

3. Electrochemistry - The Electrochemistry Module includes capabilities such as modeling electrochemical reaction mechanisms, mass transport, and current density distributions enable efficient simulation for applications including electrolysis, electrodialysis, electroanalysis, electrochemical sensors, and bioelectrochemistry.

4. Heat Transfer - The Heat Transfer module contains simulation tools to study the mechanisms of heat transfer – conduction, convection, and radiation – often in collaboration with other physics, such as structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, and chemical reactions.

5. Plasma - The Plasma Module is used to model and simulate low-temperature plasma sources and systems. Engineers and scientists use it to gain insight into the physics of discharges and gauge the performance of existing or potential designs.

6. Structural Mechanics -The Structural Mechanics Module is dedicated to the analysis of mechanical structures that are subject to static or dynamic loads. It can be used for a wide range of analysis types, including stationary, transient, eigenmode/modal, parametric, quasi-static, frequency-response, buckling, and prestressed.

7. Semiconductor - The Semiconductor Module allows for detailed analysis of semiconductor device operation at the fundamental physics level. The module is based on the drift-diffusion equations, using isothermal or nonisothermal transport models.

Mr. Samarth gave a live demo on ‘Semiconductor Module’. HE discussed that the Semiconductor Module allows for detailed analysis of semiconductor device operation at the fundamental physics level. The module is based on the drift-diffusion equations, using isothermal or nonisothermal transport models. It is useful for simulating a range of practical devices – including bipolar, metal semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFETs), metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), Schottky diodes, thyristors, and P-N junctions.

Mr. Chaudhary then discussed about Finite element analysis (FEA). HE explained it is a computerized method for predicting how a product reacts to real-world forces, vibration, heat, fluid flow, and other physical effects. Finite element analysis shows whether a product will break, wear out, or work the way it was designed. It is called analysis, but in the product development process, it is used to predict what is going to happen when the product is used.

FEA works by breaking down a real object into a large number of finite elements, such as little cubes. Mathematical equations help predict the behavior of each element. A computer then adds up all the individual behaviors to predict the behavior of the actual object.

Overall the workshop has been very useful and informative.