Manatee offers a collaborative simulation and analysis environment designed to quickly and accurately optimize the vibroacoustic performance of electric machines and drives under electromagnetic excitations. Its user-friendly interface has been developed for control, electrical, mechanical and NVH engineers.
Designing high-quality electric machines requires controlling their acoustic noise and vibration levels at every development stage, from risk analysis in preliminary studies to vibroacoustic troubleshooting after prototype manufacturing. Electric machines can induce significant electromagnetic noise and vibration (e-NVH) due to Maxwell force excitations, resulting in sound levels going up to 125 dBA at 1 meter. All topologies of electric machines can produce health, comfort, environmental friendliness or mechanical fatigue.
Electrical, magnetic and mechanical early design choices can have up to ±20 dB impact on magnetic noise and vibration levels. However, the prototyping and testing of electric machines are expensive and time-consuming. Manatee virtual prototyping environment increases design productivity and physical insights, optimized electromagnetic and vibroacoustic performance and shorter development cycles.
MANATEE 2025: The Dedicated Software for Electric Machine Noise & Vibration
MANATEE 2025 (Magnetic Acoustic Noise Analysis Tool for Electrical Engineering) is a specialized simulation software dedicated to the prediction of acoustic noise and vibration generated by electric machines, such as motors, generators, and actuators. It focuses on the electromagnetically-induced noise, which is a critical performance and comfort factor in applications ranging from electric vehicles and home appliances to industrial drives and wind turbines.
Core Function: Linking Electromagnetic Excitation to Radiated Sound
The software’s core strength is its integrated, semi-analytical approach that efficiently couples electromagnetic, structural, and acoustic physics. Instead of building massive coupled 3D FEM models, MANATEE uses analytical models and pre-computed structural modes to rapidly calculate the magnetic forces acting on the stator and rotor, the resulting structural vibrations, and finally the radiated acoustic noise. This enables fast design studies and optimization for noise at an early stage.
Key Simulation Workflow & Capabilities:
1. Electromagnetic Force Calculation
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Air-Gap Magnetic Field Modeling: Calculates the spatial and temporal distribution of magnetic forces (Maxwell stress) in the air gap of the machine, which are the primary source of excitation.
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Force Harmonic Analysis: Decomposes these forces into their spatial and temporal harmonics, identifying which force waves are most likely to excite problematic structural resonances.
2. Structural Vibration Response
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Coupled Structural-Acoustic Modeling: Incorporates the structural dynamics of the machine (stator core, housing, windings) using analytical ring models or imported FEM modal data.
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Vibration Response: Computes the vibration velocity of the machine’s surface due to the calculated magnetic forces.
3. Acoustic Radiation & Sound Power
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Radiated Noise Prediction: Estimates the sound power level and sound pressure spectrum radiated by the vibrating machine surfaces into the surrounding air.
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Order Analysis: Provides results in terms of acoustic orders related to rotational speed, which is essential for diagnosing tonal noise (whine) issues.
