Electric Discharge Module
COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.3 introduces the new Electric Discharge Module. This product is an add-on to COMSOL Multiphysics®, and it offers specialized simulation capabilities for a wide range of electric discharge scenarios, including atmospheric pressure gas discharges and breakdown phenomena in liquids such as transformer oil and in solid materials like insulating polymers. It provides dedicated interfaces for simulating breakdown thresholds, surface charge dynamics, and discharge processes in various environments, from atmospheric gases to MEMS and electronic devices where microscale events occur.
The module includes widely used charge transport models for charge carriers such as electrons and averaged ions. It incorporates detailed physical and chemical processes, including ionization, attachment, and recombination. In most cases, users are not required to manually input chemical reactions or reaction rate data. Furthermore, the module offers the flexibility to customize the discharge chemistry, with easy configuration available through the COMSOL Desktop® interface — and no programming required.
The Electric Discharge Module enables prediction of the impact of electric discharges on system performance, ensuring that designs are optimized for reliability and compliance with regulatory standards, particularly in electromagnetic
interference–electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) design for electronic devices. Engineers and scientists can simulate and analyze lightning-induced electromagnetic pulses, electrostatic discharges, and other discharge events, making the module particularly useful for advancing product development and reducing the costs associated with experimental testing and prototyping. The Electric Discharge Module can be used with products throughout the COMSOL product suite, including with those for electromagnetics, structural mechanics, and fluid dynamics to explore the multiphysics effects that often accompany electric discharges.
A transient electric arc sliding along metal rails, the motion of which is driven by the Lorentz force and the pressure gradient.
For more information, please see the Electric Discharge Module product page.