Objective Since the capability to adapt development schemes to new requirements and regulations decides about the future competitiveness of European industries, the objective of project CAE WPS intends to reduce costs, time to market and required design expertise by about 20% in the short term to up to 40% 50% in the medium term and to increase market share by about 50% in the medium term by use of a knowledge based CAE tool. This novel tool, which is set up in this project, assists the design engineer during the entire development process of welding power supplies (WPS) and supports the generation of improved welding and cutting products in terms of performance and reliability. The structure of the knowledge based computer aided engineering tool CAE WPS will be open and flexible, so as to include new solutions and update existing ones. Its innovative methodology will in conjunction with the use of the novel European simulator SIMPLORER include and support the following functions: a. A computer aided selection (CAS) of the best matching power supply topologies using a knowledge base. b. A computer aided DC and AC analysis (CAA) of power circuitry developed with a computer algebra system generating input for improved model libraries, yielding a tremendous speed up in simulations. c. Design of power electronic and control circuitry including magnetic components, taking care of highfrequency effects, using a computer aided design program (CAD) supported by the CAA model libraries, libraries for the selection of components and materials and circuit and system simulation using commercial simulation software comprising PSpice and SIMPLORER. d. Thermal design using approximate thermal modelling of power semiconductors and magnetic components while the total assembly is simulated by commercial thermal simulation programs. e. The availability of novel macro models for power electronic circuits (b), models for magnetic components with respect to electrical (c) and thermal behaviour (d) upgrades the SIMPLORER and simulation results f. Computer aided optimisation (CAO) of magnetic components with respect to selected cost functions which might be efficiency, weight etc. by applying modern numerical optimisation algorithms. g. documentation of the development process. This project aims via enlarged adaptability to new applications, resulting from increasingly demanded smaller and lighter WPSs, at addressing a broader spectrum of customers. Technical measures for the generation of such target WPSs are: - Using higher switching frequencies with its volume shrinking effect on magnetic components and filters and achieving higher efficiency through application of resonant transition switching (RTS) techniques, - applying planar, low profile magnetic devices and other magnetic cores suitable for high power density and characterised by a good thermal behaviour, - applying modern tools for modelling and simulation of the thermal behaviour of total WPSs resulting in designs which fully exploit the selected devices, materials and geometry and assuring increased lifetime. Upgrading of welding quality (ISO 9000) as well as compliance with new end future regulations with respect to electric mains pollution and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is obtained by: - Using modern, powerful controllers, whose structures and parameters are selected and adapted in accordance to the requirements of the welding process, the thickness of the material to be welded, - feeding the WPS converter through a power factor correction switch mode rectifier (PFC SMR), which allows to draw maximum power with minimum pollution from l phase or 3 phase mains while ensuring compliance with low frequency emission standards (IEC 1000 3 2/4) and minimising input filters means, - including EMC aspects already at the pre design stage, both concerning emission (radiated and conducted) and immunity so as to comply with CISPR and IEC standards on EMC. Fields of science natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicstopologynatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsalgebranatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0202 - New methodologies for product design and manufacture Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CRS - Cooperative research contracts Coordinator Rehm Gmbh u. Co Schweisstechnik Address Ottostrasse 2 73066 Uhingen Germany See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Cebora SpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via andrea costa 24 40057 Cadriano di granarolo See on map EMC Test NRW Gmbh Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Emil figge strasse 76 44227 Dortmund See on map Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 300 a,celestijnenlaan 300 a 3001 Heverlee See on map Kjellberg Elektroden und Maschinen Gmbh Finsterwalde Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Leipziger strasse 82 3238 Finsterwalde See on map Lust Antriebstechnik GmbH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 5-9,gewerbestraße 5-9 35633 Lahau See on map Payton Planar Magnetics Ltd Israel EU contribution € 0,00 Address 75140 Rishon le zion See on map SIMEC Gmbh & Co. KG Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Blankenauer strasse 74 9113 Chemnitz See on map Sirio Elettronica Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via selve 2 35033 Bresseo di teolo See on map UNIVERSITAET - GESAMTHOCHSCHULE PADERBORN Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Warburger strasse 100 33098 Paderborn See on map UNIVERSITAET DORTMUND Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address August-schmidt-strasse 4 44227 Dortmund See on map
