Electric Conduction and DC Current Flow Analysis
Electric Conduction in EMWORKS
Steady-state current flow in conductors under applied voltages or currents.
Current density and current paths in conductors
Voltage drop and resistance of busbars, cables, PCB traces, contacts
Joule (I²R) losses and power dissipation
Inputs for coupled electro-thermal analysis
Key Features of EMWORKS Electric Conduction Analysis
Steady-state conduction in CAD: Solves DC / steady-state current flow in conductors directly on CAD geometry.
Current density and current paths: Computes current density distribution and main current paths in busbars, cables, PCB traces, and contacts.
Resistance and voltage drop: Evaluates conductor resistance and voltage drop for individual parts or complete conduction paths.
Joule (I²R) losses: Calculates ohmic losses and total power dissipation in conductors.
Heat generation for electro-thermal coupling: Exports loss distributions as heat sources for subsequent thermal analysis.
Parametric studies: Supports geometry, material, and excitation sweeps to study their effect on current, resistance, and losses.
Applications of Electric Conduction Analysis
Typical use cases:
Busbars and power distribution – DC resistance, current density, hot spots, I²R losses.
Cables and harnesses – voltage drop, ampacity, joint and contact heating.
Connectors, terminals, contactors – contact resistance and local temperature rise.
PCB traces, shunts, and resistors – current sharing, I²R losses, sensing accuracy.
Fuses – current density and melting behavior under overcurrent conditions.
Battery packs and EV power paths – current balance in parallel paths, busbar losses.
Power converters and inverters – conduction losses in links, filters, and internal conductors.
Switchgear, transformers, and electric machines – conductor and winding losses, current distribution.
Results of Electric Conduction Analysis
For each study, Electric Conduction Analysis typically provides:
Electric potential (voltage)
Electric field in conductors
Current density distribution
Total current in specified paths or conductors
Resistance of conductors or paths
Power loss (I²R or J·E)
In coupled electro-thermal analysis, additional results include:
Temperature
Temperature gradient
Heat flux