Design of Powder Core Motors

The goal of the study presented in this thesis is to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of using powder technology in the design of the iron core of small claw-pole electric motors. The use of soft magnetic composites (SMC) and compaction technology allows the creation of complex 3D iron cores. The additional dimension opens for new solutions of the electromechanical energy conversion. A claw-pole motor among the transversal flux machines that has particularly high specific torque is in the focus of research interest. Generally, as the iron core can be more complicated, the winding is chosen to be simpler in the powder core motors. The thesis focuses on the machine design of a single-phase and a two-phase low-power claw-pole motor. The predicted results compare well with measurements of the prototype motors. The motor design process in this thesis uses a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) model of the outer-rotor claw-pole motors that is accurate enough to describe the physics of the electromagnetic conversion. Additional equivalent circuits are made to evaluate the mechanic and thermal loading of the machines. The outcome of the equivalent circuit models is enough to estimate roughly the optimal size of the motor and the motor output according to the materials selected. After the rough design process, which is based on equivalent circuits, is finished, a series of FE magnetostatic analyses are made in order to evaluate the static characteristics of the motors, to specify the magnetization losses and to carry out a sensitivity study for the proposed size of the motors. Finally, the magnetic, mechanic and thermal design is analyzed dynamically and statically by the use of coupled multiphysics. The task of the coupled multiphysics is to find out the cooling capability and the thermal limit of the motor as well as the mechanic stress in the motor parts due to magneto-mechanic loading. It is discussed how the discrepancy between the calculated and measured cogging torque depends on the fineness of the 3D FE air gap mesh. Iron loss estimation based on the results of the FE-analysis is made taking the local rotation, and not only pulsation, of the magnetic flux into consideration. It is shown that the loss coefficients in the material model must be adapted to account for flux rotation. A part from the output of the machine as an electromechanical energy converter is their controllability in the electric drive system. Based on the static characteristics, which are calculated in the FE-analysis and verified in prototype measurements, a tailor made control method is developed for the machines designed. Results are presented of extensive simulations and experimental verifications of the proposed control strategy and power electronic circuitry. The high-speed four-pole single-phase motor shows satisfactory results. The other motor, which has 20 poles and two phases, has a main weakness in its complex assembling and a large cogging torque

Noise and Vibration Reduction in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors –A Review

A detailed study of the mechanics of vibration and acoustic noise in permanent magnet synchronous motors due to electromagnetic origins. This paper reviews the various noise and vibrations reduction strategies from classical to state of art techniques. The recent research in development of wavelet controller, starting from brief review and the analytical analysis of acoustic noise and vibrations in Permanent magnet synchronous motor is presented. Application of wavelet transforms in the area of denoising and filtering is also explored.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v2i3.32

Mathematical Models for the Design of Electrical Machines

This book is a comprehensive set of articles reflecting the latest advances and developments in mathematical modeling and the design of electrical machines for different applications. The main models discussed are based on the: i) Maxwell–Fourier method (i.e., the formal resolution of Maxwell’s equations by using the separation of variables method and the Fourier’s series in 2-D or 3-D with a quasi-Cartesian or polar coordinate system); ii) electrical, thermal and magnetic equivalent circuit; iii) hybrid model. In these different papers, the numerical method and the experimental tests have been used as comparisons or validations

Sensorless Control of Switched-Flux Permanent Magnet Machines

This thesis investigates the sensorless control strategies of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs), with particular reference to switched-flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machines, based on high-frequency signal injection methods for low speed and standstill and the back-EMF based methods for medium and high speeds

The design, construction and performance of the MICE target

The pion-production target that serves the MICE Muon Beam consists of a titanium cylinder that is dipped into the halo of the ISIS proton beam. The design and construction of the MICE target system are described along with the quality-assurance procedures, electromagnetic drive and control systems, the readout electronics, and the data-acquisition system. The performance of the target is presented together with the particle rates delivered to the MICE Muon Beam. Finally, the beam loss in ISIS generated by the operation of the target is evaluated as a function of the particle rate, and the operating parameters of the target are derived

Modelling and detection of faults in axial-flux permanent magnet machines

The development of various topologies and configurations of axial-flux permanent magnet machine has spurred its use for electromechanical energy conversion in several applications. As it becomes increasingly deployed, effective condition monitoring built on reliable and accurate fault detection techniques is needed to ensure its engineering integrity. Unlike induction machine which has been rigorously investigated for faults, axial-flux permanent magnet machine has not. Thus in this thesis, axial-flux permanent magnet machine is investigated under faulty conditions. Common faults associated with it namely; static eccentricity and interturn short circuit are modelled, and detection techniques are established. The modelling forms a basis for; developing a platform for precise fault replication on a developed experimental test-rig, predicting and analysing fault signatures using both finite element analysis and experimental analysis. In the detection, the motor current signature analysis, vibration analysis and electrical impedance spectroscopy are applied. Attention is paid to fault-feature extraction and fault discrimination. Using both frequency and time-frequency techniques, features are tracked in the line current under steady-state and transient conditions respectively. Results obtained provide rich information on the pattern of fault harmonics. Parametric spectral estimation is also explored as an alternative to the Fourier transform in the steady-state analysis of faulty conditions. It is found to be as effective as the Fourier transform and more amenable to short signal-measurement duration. Vibration analysis is applied in the detection of eccentricities; its efficacy in fault detection is hinged on proper determination of vibratory frequencies and quantification of corresponding tones. This is achieved using analytical formulations and signal processing techniques. Furthermore, the developed fault model is used to assess the influence of cogging torque minimization techniques and rotor topologies in axial-flux permanent magnet machine on current signal in the presence of static eccentricity. The double-sided topology is found to be tolerant to the presence of static eccentricity unlike the single-sided topology due to the opposing effect of the resulting asymmetrical properties of the airgap. The cogging torque minimization techniques do not impair on the established fault detection technique in the single-sided topology. By applying electrical broadband impedance spectroscopy, interturn faults are diagnosed; a high frequency winding model is developed to analyse the impedance-frequency response obtained

Switched Flux Permanent Magnet Brushless Machines for Electric Vehicles

This thesis investigates different topologies of switched flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machines and variable flux (VF) methods for high speed applications. Although several novel topologies of SFPM machines have been proposed and investigated recently, their torque-speed capability has not been studied systematically. Therefore, the torque-speed capability as well as the open circuit and electromagnetic performance of conventional SFPM machines with three different stator/rotor pole combinations, i.e. 12/10, 12/13 and 12/14, and three novel SFPM machine topologies, i.e. multi-tooth, E-core and C-core are analysed and investigated by the finite element (FE) method and experiments. Moreover, in order to improve the flux-weakening capability of these machines a variable flux method using flux adjusters (FAs) is employed and the corresponding electromagnetic performance of the machines are investigated, analysed and compared. Both FE and measured results show when the FAs are used the torque-speed capability of the three conventional machines can be improved significantly, while no improvement is shown in the three novel topologies primarily due to the large winding inductances. The technique of using flux adjusters has been improved by reducing the number of FAs. Thus, a new mechanical variable-flux machine topology, which uses only half of FAs outside the stator at alternative stator poles, is proposed, developed and analysed. Open circuit results, electromagnetic performance and torque- and power-speed curves of the 12/10, 12/13 and 12/14 stator/rotor pole SFPM machines with alternative FAs are predicted and compared by 2D and 3D-FE, and experimentally validated. Furthermore, a novel SFPM machine topology with radial and circumferential PMs is proposed, investigated and optimized. This topology reduces the stator flux leakage and offers high magnetic utilization. Moreover, this topology can also be developed as a mechanical variable flux machine. Finally, three SFPM machines with variable flux techniques, i.e. mechanically movable flux adjusters (MMFA), mechanically rotatable permanent magnet set (MRMS) and hybrid excitation with backside DC coils (HEBC) are analysed. Their open circuit results and electromagnetic performance with emphasis on torque-speed characteristic are investigated and compared. Additionally, the required power to switch between flux weakening and strengthening states, flux weakening capability and permanent magnet demagnetization withstand capability are predicted, analysed and compared. The influence of end-effect on the torque-speed capability in the conventional, multi-tooth, E-core and C-core SFPM machines is investigated. Measurements and 3D-FE are performed to obtain the torque-speed curve in order to validate the findings of the research. The 3D-FE predicted results match well with the measured results, while the 2D-FE predicted results are lower due to the high end-effect in the SFPM machines

Design Synthesis and Optimization of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines Based on Computationally-Efficient Finite Element Analysis

In this dissertation, a model-based multi-objective optimal design of permanent magnet ac machines, supplied by sine-wave current regulated drives, is developed and implemented. The design procedure uses an efficient electromagnetic finite element-based solver to accurately model nonlinear material properties and complex geometric shapes associated with magnetic circuit design. Application of an electromagnetic finite element-based solver allows for accurate computation in intricate performance parameters and characteristics. The first contribution of this dissertation is the development of a rapid computational method that allows accurate and efficient exploration of large multi-dimensional design spaces in search of optimum design(s). The computationally efficient finite element-based approach developed in this work provides a framework of tools that allow rapid analysis of synchronous electric machines operating under steady-state conditions. In the developed modeling approach, major steady-state performance parameters such as, winding flux linkages and voltages, average, cogging and ripple torques, stator core flux densities, core losses, efficiencies and saturated machine winding inductances, are calculated with minimum computational effort. In addition, the method includes means for rapid estimation of distributed stator forces and three-dimensional effects of stator and/or rotor skew on the performance of the machine. The second contribution of this dissertation is the development of the design synthesis and optimization method based on a differential evolution algorithm. The approach relies on the developed finite element-based modeling method for electromagnetic analysis and is able to tackle large-scale multi-objective design problems using modest computational resources. Overall, computational time savings of up to two orders of magnitude are achievable, when compared to current and prevalent state-of-the-art methods. These computational savings allow one to expand the optimization problem to achieve more complex and comprehensive design objectives. The method is used in the design process of several interior permanent magnet industrial motors. The presented case studies demonstrate that the developed finite element-based approach practically eliminates the need for using less accurate analytical and lumped parameter equivalent circuit models for electric machine design optimization. The design process and experimental validation of the case-study machines are detailed in the dissertation

Damage Detection of Rotors Using Magnetic Force Actuator: Analysis and Experimental Verification

The ability to monitor the structural health of rotordynamic systems is becoming increasingly important as critical components continue to be used despite aging and the associated potential for damage accumulation. The aim of this thesis is to investigate a novel structural health monitoring approach for the detection of damage in rotating shafts, which utilizes a magnetic force actuator for applying multiple types of force inputs on to a rotating structure for analysis of resulting outputs. The magnetic actuator will be used in conjunction with conventional support bearings and also be applied to rotor under full magnetic levitation. The results of numerical simulations of the cracked rotor system will be compared with experimental data obtained with the crack detection dedicated test ri