Multi-Load Optimization in Electrical Engineering Design Part I: Simulation

1. Abstract The goal of the paper is to illustrate a method for automatic 3D optimization of industrial devices. T his contribution - Part I covers the procedures for the simulation and optimization approaches appearing in the electric engineering de sign. The follow-up contribution - Part II will cover the computational and experimental validation of the given approache s. In the first part we briefly discuss the theoretica l background of the optimization method. The focus is on a non-parametric, non- gradient technique used for high-level optimization procedures, often in connection with the evaluated design criteria. Highlighted is an approach developed to enable efficient simulatio n of the multi-load problems appearing often during the operational conditions of power apparatus like switchgears or actuators. In the second part we proceed with the advanced Boundary Element Method (BEM) supplemented by the state-of-the art Multipole- based techniques for matrix compression and acceler ation. Emphasized is the suitability of this approa ch for efficient simulation of complex real-world problems. Discussed also is the necessity to perform assembly-level simulation as opposed to component-level simulation to capture the real physical phenomena i n complex industrial devices. Thanks to the fact th at BEM requires only a mesh on the interfaces between different media, this met hod appears to be especially suited for the large s cale problems. Finally, in the third part we demonstrate the devel oped procedures on some real-world power engineering examples that clearly illustrate the powerfulness of the applied procedur es for the future optimization-based design of indu strial products.