Torque density enhancement of 6/4 variable flux reluctance machine with 2nd harmonic current injection

Variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) are developed as magnetless electrical machines. To extend the application of VFRMs, the enhancement of torque density is a key during machine design. In this paper, a novel 2nd harmonic current injection method is developed for torque density enhancement for 6-stator-slot/4-rotor-tooth (6/4) VFRM. By using analytical method, the optimal current profile with injected 2nd harmonic current is obtained. The average torque of 6/4 VFRM is improved by 20% with the proposed method under all load conditions. Moreover, the proposed current profile has fixed harmonic proportions and is easily applicable to machines with different specifications. All the conclusions are confirmed by both finite element analyses and experimental results

Analysis of Stator/Rotor Pole Combinations in Variable Flux Reluctance Machines Using Magnetic Gearing Effect

The torque production of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) is explained by the “magnetic gearing effect” in recent research. Based on this theory, this paper concludes the general principles for feasible stator/rotor pole selection and corresponding winding configuration for VFRMs. The influence of stator/rotor pole combination on torque performance is comprehensively investigated not only in terms of average torque and torque ripple, but also in terms of each single torque component. It is found that the synchronous torque is proportional to the fundamental rotor radial permeance component and has the dominant contribution in average torque for all the VFRMs. The stator slot number and rotor pole number should be close to each other to achieve the highest output torque. Meanwhile, the 6-stator-slot/(6i ± 2)-rotor-pole (6s/(6i ± 2)r) and their multiples are large torque ripple origins for VFRMs due to the large reluctance torque ripple. Also, it is proved that a lower stator slot number is preferable choice to obtain higher torque/copper loss ratio, whereas a higher stator slot number is more suitable for large machine scale scenario. Finally, the analyses and conclusions are verified by finite element analysis on the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-stator-slot VFRMs and by experimental tests on a 6s/7r and 6s/8r VFRMs

A PDEM-COM framework for uncertainty quantification of backward issues involving both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties

Uncertainties that exist in nature or due to lack of knowledge have been widely recognized by researchers and engineering practitioners throughout engineering design and analysis for decades. Though great efforts have been devoted to the issues of uncertainty quantification (UQ) in various aspects, the methodologies on the quantification of aleatory uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty are usually logically inconsistent. For instance, the aleatory uncertainty is usually quantified in the framework of probability theory, whereas the epistemic uncertainty is quantified mostly by non-probabilistic methods. In the present paper, a probabilistically consistent framework for the quantification of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainty by synthesizing the probability density evolution method (PDEM) and the change of probability measure (COM) is outlined. The framework is then applied to the backward issues of uncertainty quantification. In particular, the uncertainty model updating issue is discussed in this paper. A numerical example is presented, and the results indicate the flexibility and efficiency of the proposed PDEM-COM framework

Comparative Analysis of Variable Flux Reluctance Machines With Double- and Single-Layer Concentrated Armature Windings

In this paper, the variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) with double- and single-layer concentrated armature windings are comparatively analyzed. First, the single-layer winding is found to have an identical winding factor as a double-layer winding, but significantly larger peak value of magneto-motive force, which will result in severe local saturation in cores of VFRMs with single-layer winding. Then, based on the magnetic gearing effect and finite-element analysis, the electromagnetic performances of VFRMs with both winding types are compared. The VFRMs with single-layer winding are proved to be always lower in average torque, higher in torque ripple, larger in iron loss, and lower in efficiency than those with double-layer winding. Nevertheless, better fault-tolerance capability is achieved for a single-layer winding due to its physical separation between phases and larger phase self-inductance. Overall, the double-layer armature winding is the preferable choice for the VFRMs. Finally, a 6-stator-slot/4-rotor-pole VFRM with both double- and single-layer windings is prototyped for verification

Analysis of power factor in variable flux reluctance machines with MMF-permeance model

This study investigates the underlying mechanism of low-power factor issue of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) from the perspective of magneto-motive force (MMF)-permeance model. On the basis of a simplified analytical model, the relationship between the design parameters and the power factor is identified and systematically summarised into three predictable ratios: the rotor permeance ratio, stator/rotor-pole ratio and DC/AC winding ampere turns ratio. Specifically, the smaller the rotor-pole arc, the air-gap length, the rotor-pole number and the AC/DC winding ampere turns ratio are, the higher the power factor will be. In addition, the weak coupling between the field and armature windings caused by the modulation effect of the salient rotor is responsible for the low-power factor issue of VFRMs, regardless of the control scheme, winding configuration or saturation effect. A 6-stator-pole/4-rotor-pole VFRM is prototyped and tested for verification

Rotor shaping method for torque ripple mitigation in variable flux reluctance machines

In this paper, four rotor shaping methods, i.e., eccentric circular, inverse cosine, inverse cosine with third harmonic, and multi-step shaping methods, are developed and compared for torque ripple mitigation in variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs). By using a 6-stator-pole/7-rotor-pole (6/7) VFRM as an example, the design criterions and capabilities of these four methods are illustrated. It is found that all the rotor shaping methods are capable of torque ripple mitigation and applicable to all the VFRMs except those with 6 k /(6 i ± 2) k ( k , i = 1, 2, 3…) stator/rotor pole combinations. Moreover, the inverse cosine with third harmonic and multi-step shaping methods are found to have the best performance. They are able to reduce the torque ripple by 90% at a cost of only 3% torque density reduction. A 6/7 VFRM with both conventional and shaped rotors is prototyped and tested for verification

Investigation of optimal Split ratio for high-speed permanent-magnet brushless machines

The split ratio, i.e., the ratio of rotor outer diameter to stator outer diameter, is one of the most vital design parameters for permanent-magnet (PM) machines due to its significant impact on the machine torque or power density. However, it has been optimized analytically in the existing papers with due account only for the stator copper loss, which is reasonable for low-to-medium speed PM machines. For high-speed PM machines (HSPMMs), the negligence of stator iron loss and the mechanical stress on the rotor will lead to a deviation of optimal split ratio and actual torque capability. In this paper, the optimal split ratio of HSPMM is investigated analytically with the consideration of stator iron loss as well as the mechanical stress on the rotor. The influence of air-gap length and rotor pole pairs on the optimal split ratio is elaborated. Both the analytical and finite-element analysis reveal that the optimal split ratio for HSPMM will be significantly reduced, when stator iron loss and mechanical constraints are taken into account

Thermal-loss coupling analysis of an electrical machine using the improved temperature-dependent iron loss model

In this paper, the iron loss models for electrical machines are first reviewed. One of the most accurate iron loss models, when the temperature is constant, is identified. An improved temperature-dependent iron loss model is also introduced. By applying the improved iron loss model to the electrical machine thermal analysis, the thermal and loss analyses can be fully coupled. Based on this, an improved thermal-loss coupling analysis method for electrical machine is developed in this paper. The electrical machine iron loss tests are carried out. The analysis and measurement results are then compared in order to validate the improved thermal-loss coupling analysis method. The comparison results indicate that the temperature prediction accuracy can be significantly improved by using the improved thermal-loss coupling analysis method

Distributed phase-covariant cloning with atomic ensembles via quantum Zeno dynamics

We propose an interesting scheme for distributed orbital state quantum cloning with atomic ensembles based on the quantum Zeno dynamics. These atomic ensembles which consist of identical three-level atoms are trapped in distant cavities connected by a single-mode integrated optical star coupler. These qubits can be manipulated through appropriate modulation of the coupling constants between atomic ensemble and classical field, and the cavity decay can be largely suppressed as the number of atoms in the ensemble qubits increases. The fidelity of each cloned qubit can be obtained with analytic result. The present scheme provides a new way to construct the quantum communication network.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure