Ansoft Customers - NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Glenn Research Center develops and transfers critical technologies that address national priorities in aeropropulsion and space applications. Their work focuses on research for new aeropropulsion technologies, aerospace power, microgravity science, electric propulsion, and communications technologies for aeronautics, space, and aerospace applications.

THE NEED
To determine if a power converter for a Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) will work, perform, and survive in the harsh environment of a deep-space mission

THE SOLUTION
Maxwell� 3D for electromagnetic analysis

"Using Maxwell 3D field simulator, we studied the magnets and the alternator to make sure they will last," says NASA engineer Steven M. Geng.

Geng uses the software to analyze the linear alternator for the converter to determine the degree to which the magnets are stressed in the alternator and to observe how close they are to demagnetizing. "As a result," he says, "we're evaluating materials in the converter to make sure that it will survive the higher radiation environment [of the outer atmosphere]."

"These units will be expected to operate for long periods of time in space," adds Geng, who says that using Maxwell 3D helps him and his colleagues improve designs while shortening design cycles and saving prototyping costs.

THE CASE
To read the NASA Glenn Research Center case study, click here.

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RELATED MEDIA

Presentations

Source Date Title Author

02/22/07 NASA High Speed PMSM for Flywheel

2005 HFSS Users Workshop 02/16/05 Application of HFSS for Predicting and Eliminating Enclosure Resonances of RF Products Ken Hersey, NASA

2004 Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 09/21/04 Development of a Versatile Power Simulation Platform in Support of NASA Missions Ray Beach - NASA Glenn

2004 Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 09/21/04 High-Speed Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor/Generator Design for Flywheel Applications Aleksandr Nagorny - NASA

2004 Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 09/21/04 Simulation and Analysis of Three-Phase Rectifiers for Aerospace Power Applications Long Truong - NASA

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Use of Maxwell for Simulation of Magnetically Levitated Propulsor Dawn Emerson - NASA Glenn Research Center

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Development of a Three Phase Filter for a 60,000 RPM Flywheel System Long V. Truong - NASA Glenn Research Center

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Performance Prediction for a Permanent Magnet Two-Pole Synchronous Machine for a Flywheel Energy Storage System Narayan Dravid - NASA Glenn Research Center

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Concurrent Engineering Design Practice for Aerospace Power Raymond F Beach - NASA Glenn Research Center

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Free-Piston Stirling Convertor Controller Development at NASA Glenn Research Center Timothy Regan - Sest, Inc.

Aerospace Power and Electronics Simulation Workshop 10/08/03 Power Losses in Magnetic Bearings Controlled by High Frequency Switching Power Amps Andrew Kenny - Texas A&M University | Ray Beach - NASA GRC | Alan Palazzolo - Texas A&M University

Articles

Source Date Title Author

Ansoft 02/01/02 Ansoft�s Maxwell� 3D Field Simulator Software Helps NASA Glenn Develop Alternative Power Sources for Ansoft - Laura Carrabine