Once the simulation is finished, the software prepares the results. The most common ones are provided in tabular and visual form. For more detailed analysis, you can use the ParaView tool to visualize and manipulate the simulation results. Once the simulation is completed, click Open in ParaView.

IMPORTANT: TRAFOLO templates do not hold full result files by default, so you will need to rerun simulations to visualize their results in ParaView.

Results tab with visualization of temperature distribution

Capacitance Matrix – Available only when Capacitance is solved. Opens a file with all capacitance combinations between the coil groups. The diagonal values of the matrix represent the self-capacitance of each coil, the capacitance against the outer boundary.

Proximity Factors – Opens a file containing a table with R_AC/R_DC coefficients for individual coil groups and frequencies. In transient simulations, these coefficients represent the effective coefficient for an entire period. Calculating these coefficients involves using harmonic amplitudes as weights, ensuring an accurate representation of the overall resistance and losses in the system throughout the simulation period.

Summary

This tab presents computed numerical values for losses, inductance, capacitance, and resistance. The visibility of these fields will depend on the numerical settings.

Summary of component losses and electromagnetic parameters

Loss table – In harmonic simulations, the losses are displayed for each specific frequency, while in transient simulations, the losses are averaged over full periods.

R_DC, R_AC, U_rms, I_rms, I_ph, U_ph  – Available for harmonic simulation type, this table provides resistance, voltages, currents, and phases.

Hotspot – The highest temperature point in the entire domain. The value available only for steady-state heat transfer.

Interwinding capacitance – This field is available only when Capacitance is enabled in the Setup tab. It displays the capacitance between primary and secondary windings. Interwinding capacitance is derived from the capacitance matrix by summing the matrix components involving the primary and secondary coil groups.

ParaView

Simulation results can be further manipulated and analyzed by a post-processing tool. The tool that comes with the software, ParaView, includes a range of filters and functions. For example, you can select individual parts of components and visualize field distributions, integrate fields, visualize magnetic field lines, and perform statistical analysis.

Visualization of TRAFOLO results in ParaView post-processing software

Using Filters

To access and use filters in ParaView, follow these steps:

1. In the Pipeline Browser on the left side, select the dataset for which you want to apply the filter by clicking on its name (e.g., Workpiece, Inductor, etc.).
2. To find a specific filter, click “Filters” in the menu bar, then select “Search…”. Type the name of the filter you are looking for in the Search window and press Enter. All filters containing the entered keyword will be displayed and available for selection.
3. If unsure which filter to use, click “Filters” in the menu bar and select “Alphabetical”. This will display an alphabetically sorted list of all available filters. Browse through the list and choose the one that best suits your needs.
4. Once you have selected a filter, it will be applied to the dataset you previously chose in the Pipeline Browser. You can adjust the filter settings in the Properties panel on the left side of the ParaView window.
5. Click “Apply” in the Properties panel to visualize the applied filter’s results.
6. If you want to apply multiple filters, repeat steps 2-6 for each additional filter.

Frequently used filters

Here’s a summary of the four most used filters:

1. Threshold: This filter extracts single or multiple domains from the full dataset and allows you to independently manipulate results in these domains. It helps visualize specific regions of interest, such as windings or coils.
2. Slice: The Slice filter cuts the domain with a plane, letting you visualize a domain layer. This is useful for examining cross-sections of your dataset at different locations.
3. Clip: Similar to Slice, the Clip filter cuts the domain in half and lets you visualize only a part of it. This is helpful when focusing on a specific region within your dataset.
4. Stream Tracer: The Stream Tracer filter generates streamlines for vector fields, making it useful for visualizing magnetic field lines or flow paths in fluid simulations. It can help you understand the behavior of vector fields within your dataset.
5. Plot Over Line: This filter plots results along a line drawn across the computational domain. It’s useful for analyzing how different variables change along a specific path or comparing values at various locations in the dataset.