Project: NEtwork Tool for ElectroMagnetic Compatibility

The context of the NET-EMC research project is EMC (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) design issues._x000D_Due to recent technological developments, in transportation, many mechanical mechanisms have been replaced or improved with electronic equipment, to the extent that petrol powertrains will be gradually replaced by electric power engines. In the aeronautic industry, electronic circuits are increasingly designed and used for critical flight control systems, due to their ability to accurately control complex functions and their superior reliability. Electronic circuits however, do not only react to their internal electrical signal flow, but may respond to any disturbing input signal (i.e. voltage, currents and Electromagnetic fields) which can couple into the wire bundles, integrated circuit leads and connectors. The electromagnetic environment (EM) is one of these inputs that by nature affects all these electronic circuits. It may result in disabling effects called electromagnetic interference that could jeopardize the correct functioning of the system. _x000D_ _x000D_As a consequence electromagnetic disturbance phenomena are logically increasing and, in the case of the aerospace industry, concern for safety in operations has increased substantially. This is due to the following principal factors:_x000D_• Greater dependence on electrical/electronic systems performing complex functions required for safe piloting, safe flying and landing._x000D_• Reduction of EM shielding caused by composite material_x000D_• Potential decrease in the immunity of Integrated circuits due to their increased operating speed and density _x000D_• The expectation that the electromagnetic environment will become more severe due to a proliferation in the number and the power of RF emitters._x000D__x000D_Accounting for EMC aspects of electrical/electronic systems should be recognized as a crucial issue by aerospace industries .The implication is that EMC should be addressed at the system level early in the aircraft or satellite design phase. Designing electrical/electronic systems immune to EMC effects from the beginning is the optimum approach to achieving qualification or certification and reducing costs._x000D__x000D_In recent years, a number of computer tools have been developed for EMC design. Some of these tools attempt to predict the electromagnetic emissions and immunity from a detailed knowledge of the circuit layout and shielding. 3D (full wave methods) computational Electromagnetics can analyse potential electromagnetic issues and can therefore help in meeting EMC specifications. They are, however, very complex, time consuming and are dedicated to EMC experts._x000D__x000D_This project has the ambition to develop a quick and easy simulation tool that can be operated at an early stage of system design, by non-expert EMC users and with a controlled level of accuracy. The gains provided by this tool are on the one hand to improve the quality of consequent EMC-related system design decisions and on the other hand to optimise traditional simulations and measurements performed at the next stages of development. _x000D__x000D_The problem to solve is very complex and requires a set of appropriate innovative methods. The overall complex problem will be decomposed into a set of simpler and well understood physical situations based on electrical networks. This approach will bridge the gap between component and system level understanding. A set of algorithms and models will be used to characterise the full range of electromagnetic behaviour of complex systems with a controlled accuracy level. _x000D__x000D_The following work breakdown structure is proposed:_x000D_• WP1: Requirements of the tool and of the case studies_x000D_• WP2: Methodology for simplification process_x000D_• WP3: Model development_x000D_• WP4: Network solver development _x000D_• WP5: Graphical Tool development_x000D_• WP6: Validation on real test cases_x000D_• WP7: Industrialisation and Synthesis_x000D_• WP8: Management and Dissemination_x000D__x000D_The duration of the project will be 30 months. The Pship will be composed of 8 participants from France, Spain and Turkey:_x000D_- NEXIO (FR): SME - Coordinator - EMC engineering_x000D_- COMPASS (ES): SME - Engineering design_x000D_- CIMNE (ES): Research Centre - Numerical methods_x000D_- ATALAN MAKINE (TR): SME - Engineering services_x000D_- XLIM (FR): University - EMC research_x000D_- APPLUS (ES): large company - EMC certification_x000D_- ENTARES (FR): SME – Numerical EMC simulation_x000D_- UPC (ES): University - EMC measurements_x000D__x000D_In addition to the Ps above, a panel of major end users in the aeronautic and satellite doCOs have expressed their need (Annex 4) for such a tool and associated services. They will be directly involved in the project, demonstrating that there is real innovation from the point of view of research and methodology in this tool. They will participate in the detailed specification of “real life” application cases and mock-ups (Annex 5). They will also perform some complex measurement campaigns and will provide feedback and recommendations following their evaluation of the NET-EMC tool._x000D_

Acronym NET-EMC (Reference Number: 4648)
Duration 08/09/2009 - 30/09/2012
Project Topic NET-EMC is a quick and easy simulation tool for ElectroMagnetic Compatibility issues to be used in the early stage of system design by non-expert EMC users. It will provide a significant gain in the optimisation of traditional simulations and measurements performed at the next stages of development.
Project Results
(after finalisation)
The role of ENTARES on this project was to participate in the definition and the validation of test cases by comparing the results of NET-EMC using the KRON method with those of CAPITOLE-EM software using the MOM method and the ACA algorithm. _x000D__x000D_The CO result for ENTARES in this project was to validate its software, particularly through EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) measurements applications which is a new field for the software._x000D__x000D_These comparisons allowed to validate the quality of NET-EMC results compared to the standard MOM method. In addition, we have seen that NET-EMC constitutes one of the fastest solution in the market, contained in CAPITOLE-EM with the ACA method, which showed that NET-EMC is still faster than the fastest conventional methods for EMC upstream phase calculations. In this context, NET-EMC proves to be a complementary and interesting solution to CAPITOLE-EM in the pre-sizing phases in order to bring assistance in the selection of relevant parameters requiring a more accurate modeling with CAPITOLE-EM software._x000D_
Network Eurostars
Call Eurostars Cut-Off 2

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
8 APPLUS LGAI Technological Center, S.A. Partner Spain
8 ATALAN MAKINE MUHENDISLIK SAVUNMA VE HAVACILIK SAN. TIC. LTD. STI Partner Türkiye
8 Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria Observer Spain
8 Compass Ingeniería y Sistemas, SA Partner Spain
8 ENTARES Engineering SAS Partner France
8 NEXIO Coordinator France
8 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Observer Spain
8 University of Limoges Partner France