Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

3b

Transient Modeling of a Capacitor in

a Circuit
Introduction
This example solves a transient model of a capacitor in combination with an external
electrical circuit. The finite element model of the capacitor is combined with a circuit
model of a voltage source and a resistor. A step change in voltage is applied, and the
transient current through the capacitor is computed and compared to the analytic
result.

Metal plates and leads

V(t)

Dielectric
1000

Figure 1: A simple capacitor composed of a disk of dielectric with metal plates on either
side and lead wires is connected to an circuit model of a voltage source and a resistor.

Model Definition
The modeled capacitor consists of two metal disks with leads separated by a disk of
quartz glass with relative permittivity r = 4.2 and a small electric conductivity
= 10-14 S/m (Figure 1). The model also includes a region of surrounding air
(r = 1.0, = 0 S/m) to account for the fringing fields. The capacitor is connected to
an external circuit composed of a voltage source and a resistor. Initially, the capacitor

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is in an equipotential state, with no potential difference between the plates. The

voltage across the system is turned on instantaneously, and the potential fields and
current through the device is computed.
The air surrounding the capacitor has zero conductivity, which means that only
displacement currents can exist. The quartz does have a small electric conductivity, and
thus supports both displacement and conduction currents. Because both displacement
and conduction currents exist in this model, use the Electric Currents interface.
Assume that the capacitor plates themselves are highly conductive, so that their total
effective resistivity is much lower than the external resistor. Under this assumption, it
is not necessary to solve for the fields inside of the capacitor plates; you can assume
them to be at an equipotential at any instant in time.
A separate electrostatic analysis can be used to compute the capacitance of the device
with the result C = 43.4 pF. The external resistor has a resistance of R = 1000 . The
analytic solution for the current through a resistor and capacitor in series is
V0
t
I ( t ) = ------- exp ---------
RC
R

(1)

where V0 is the applied voltage.

When solving for a finite element model and a circuit model in combination, it is
sometimes necessary to adjust the solver settings. Here, you solve the electric currents
problem and the electric circuits problem using a coupled direct solver. This is the most
robust solver combination, but also the most memory intensive one.

Results and Discussion

Figure 2 compares the model result for the current through the capacitor as a function
of time for a unit change in the applied voltage with the analytic solution. As the figure
shows, the agreement is very close.
The displacement and conduction current densities are plotted in Figure 3 and
Figure 4 at a point midway between the capacitor plates. While the displacement
current density drops off to zero, the induced conduction current density rises in time
to a steady-state value. The magnitude of the displacement current density is much
higher than the magnitude of the conduction current density, which means that the
device has only small leakage currents and losses.

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Figure 2: The current through the capacitor after a change in voltage is applied across the
system.

Figure 3: The induced conduction current density in the quartz dielectric.

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Figure 4: The displacement current density in the quartz dielectric.

Model Library path: ACDC_Module/Capacitive_Devices/

capacitor_transient

Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click Next.
3 In the Add physics tree, select AC/DC>Electric Currents (ec).
4 Click Add Selected.
5 In the Add physics tree, select AC/DC>Electrical Circuit (cir).
6 Click Add Selected.
7 Click Next.

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8 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies for Selected
Physics>Time Dependent.
9 Click Finish.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name

Expression

Description

1000[ohm]

External resistor resistance

43.4[pF]

Device capacitance

V0

1[V]

Applied voltage

GEOMETRY 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Geometry 1.

2 In the Geometry settings window, locate the Units section.
3 From the Length unit list, choose cm.

First, create a cylinder for the model domain.

Cylinder 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 20.
4 In the Height edit field, type 20.
5 Click the Build Selected button.

Choose wireframe rendering to get a better view of the interior parts.

6 Click the Wireframe Rendering button on the Graphics toolbar.

Next add a cylinder for the disc of dielectric with two metal plates.

Cylinder 2
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 10.

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4 In the Height edit field, type 4.

5 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type 8.
6 Click to expand the Layers section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Layer name

Thickness (cm)

Layer 1

5[mm]

7 Clear the Layers on side check box.

8 Select the Layers on bottom check box.
9 Select the Layers on top check box.

Finish the geometry creation by adding two cylinders for the leads.

Cylinder 3
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 0.75.
4 In the Height edit field, type 8.

Cylinder 4
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 0.75.
4 In the Height edit field, type 8.
5 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type 12.

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6 Click the Build All button.

The model is composed of a disc of dielectric, with metal plates on either side, and lead
wires.
DEFINITIONS

Create a set of selections to use when setting up the physics. First, create a selection for
the metal domain.

Explicit 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose
Selections>Explicit.
2 In the Model Builder window, click Explicit 1.

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3 Select Domains 2 and 46 only.

4 Right-click Explicit 1 and choose Rename.

5 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Metal in the New name edit field.
6 Click OK.

Add a selection for the model domain.

Complement 1
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Complement.
2 In the Complement settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
3 Under Selections to invert, click Add.
4 Go to the Add dialog box.
5 In the Selections to invert list, select Metal.

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6 Click the OK button.

7 Right-click Model 1>Definitions>Complement 1 and choose Rename.

8 Go to the Rename Complement dialog box and type Model domain in the New name

edit field.
9 Click OK.

Add a selection for the ground boundaries.

Explicit 2
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit.
2 In the Explicit settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.

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4 Select Boundaries 57, 10, 15, 16, 24, 27, 29, and 31 only.

5 Right-click Model 1>Definitions>Explicit 2 and choose Rename.

6 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Ground boundaries in the New name

edit field.
7 Click OK.

Add a selection for the terminal boundaries.

Explicit 3
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit.
2 In the Explicit settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.

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4 Select Boundaries 1114, 19, 20, 26, 28, 30, and 33 only.

5 Right-click Model 1>Definitions>Explicit 3 and choose Rename.

6 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Terminal boundaries in the New
name edit field.
7 Click OK.

View 1
To get a better view, suppress some of the boundaries.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Definitions right-click View 1 and

choose Hide Geometric Entities.

2 In the Hide Geometric Entities settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection

section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.

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4 Select Boundaries 1, 4, and 23 only.

ELECTRIC CURRENTS

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Electric Currents.

2 In the Electric Currents settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Model domain.

Ground 1
1 Right-click Model 1>Electric Currents and choose Ground.
2 In the Ground settings window, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Ground boundaries.

Terminal 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Electric Currents and choose Terminal.
2 In the Terminal settings window, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Terminal boundaries.
4 Locate the Terminal section. From the Terminal type list, choose Circuit.

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ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

Resistor 1
In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Electrical Circuit and choose
Resistor.

Voltage Source 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Electrical Circuit and choose Voltage Source.
2 In the Voltage Source settings window, locate the Node Connections section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Label

Node names

External I Vs. U 1
1 Right-click Electrical Circuit and choose External I Vs. U.
2 In the External I Vs. U settings window, locate the Node Connections section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Label

Node names

4 Locate the External Device section. From the V list, choose Terminal voltage (ec/
term1).
MATERIALS

Next, assign material properties on the model. Begin by specifying air for all domains.

Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Open
Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Air.
3 Click Add Material to Model.

Override the dielectric disc with glass (quartz).

4 In the Model Builder window, right-click Materials and choose Open Material Browser.
5 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Glass (quartz).
6 Click Add Material to Model.

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Glass (quartz)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Materials click Glass (quartz).
2 Select Domain 3 only.

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MESH 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Mesh 1 and choose Build All.

STUDY 1

1 In the Model Builder window, click Study 1.

2 In the Study settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Clear the Generate default plots check box.

Step 1: Time Dependent

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node, then click Step 1: Time
Dependent.
2 In the Time Dependent settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Times edit field, type range(0,2.0e-8,2.0e-7).

Solver 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Show Default Solver.
2 Expand the Solver 1 node.
3 Right-click Time-Dependent Solver 1 and choose Fully Coupled.

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4 Right-click Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solver 1>Time-Dependent Solver 1>Direct

and choose Enable.

5 Right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.
RESULTS

Data Sets
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Data Sets and choose Cut Point
3D.
2 In the Cut Point 3D settings window, locate the Point Data section.
3 In the x edit field, type 0.
4 In the y edit field, type 0.
5 In the z edit field, type 10.

3D Plot Group 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 3D Plot Group 1 and choose Slice.
3 In the Slice settings window, locate the Plane Data section.
4 In the Planes edit field, type 1.

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5 Click the Plot button.

1D Plot Group 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 1D Plot Group 2 and choose Global.
3 In the Global settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the y-Axis Data section. Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the
following settings:
Expression

Unit

Description

ec.I0_1

Terminal current

4 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line style subsection. From

the Line list, choose None.

5 Set the Width value to 2.
6 Find the Line markers subsection. From the Marker list, choose Diamond.
7 In the Model Builder window, right-click 1D Plot Group 2 and choose Global.
8 In the Global settings window, locate the y-Axis Data section.

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9 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression

Unit

Description

(V0/R)*exp(-t/(R*C))

Analytic solution

10 Click the Plot button.

Compare the resulting plot with Figure 2.

1D Plot Group 3
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Point Graph.
3 In the Point Graph settings window, locate the Data section.
4 From the Data set list, choose Cut Point 3D 1.
5 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the y-Axis Data section. From

the menu, choose Electric Currents>Currents and charge>Induced current

density>Induced current density, z component (ec.Jiz).
6 Click the Plot button.

The reproduced plot should look like Figure 3. Finish the result analysis by
reproducing Figure 4.

1D Plot Group 4
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the 1D Plot Group 4 node, then click Point
Graph 1.
3 In the Point Graph settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the y-Axis Data section. From the menu, choose Electric Currents>Currents
and charge>Displacement current density>Displacement current density, z component
(ec.Jdz).
4 Click the Plot button.

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