Equivalent Conductor Layer for Fast 3-D Finite Element Simulations of Inductive Power Transfer Coils

In this article, a method to replace conductors, in one or multiple layers, by an equivalent layer with homogeneous current distribution is proposed to allow complex 3-D finite element simulations. This equivalent layer needs a coarser mesh, then the simulations are accelerated. The electromagnetic properties of this equivalent layer will be defined to match skin and proximity losses of actual round and Litz-wire conductors. Analytical and empirical equations to obtain these parameters will be provided and the method is validated in several inductive power transfer coils with three dimensional geometries.