Finite element modeling of power electronic circuits containing switches attached to saturable magnetic components

Finite element analysis of saturable lossy magnetic components is extended to include the effects of switches, which may be either mechanical or electronic. The switches are modeled using coupled electromagnetic and structural finite elements which are stretched to vary their electrical resistance with time. Good results are shown for a simple resistive circuit with a switched excitation and for a highly saturated transformer with a secondary load resistor that is switched on and off.