Slotless PM machines with skewed winding shapes:3D electromagnetic modeling

The 3D modeling technique presented in this paper, predicts, with high accuracy, electromagnetic fields and corresponding dynamic effects in conducting regions for rotating machines with slotless windings, e.g. self-supporting windings. The presented modeling approach can be applied to a wide variety of slotless winding configurations, including skewing and/or different winding shapes. It is capable to account for induced eddy-currents in the conductive rotor parts, e.g. permanent magnet eddy-current losses, albeit not iron and winding AC losses. The specific focus of this paper is to provide the reader with the complete implementation and assumptions details of such a 3D semi-analytical approach, which allows model validations with relatively short calculation times. This model can be used to improve future design optimizations for machines with 3D slotless windings. It has been applied, in this paper, to calculate fixed parameter Faulhaber, Rhombic, and Diamond slotless PM machines to illustrate accuracy and applicability

Torque ripple reduction for 12-stator/10-rotor-pole variable flux reluctance machines by rotor skewing or rotor teeth non-uniformity

Variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) are interesting candidates to substitute permanent-magnet synchronous machines in many applications. However, they suffer from large torque ripple. In this paper two methods, stepped rotor skewing and rotor teeth non-uniformity, are researched to reduce the torque ripple of 12/10 (stator/rotor-pole ratio) VFRMs. Based on semi-analytic results and finite-element simulations, the effectiveness of these two methods is validated in both non-saturated and saturated machines.</p

Torque ripple reduction for 12-stator/10-rotor-pole variable flux reluctance machines by rotor skewing or rotor teeth non-uniformity

Variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) are interesting candidates to substitute permanent-magnet synchronous machines in many applications. However, they suffer from large torque ripple. In this paper two methods, stepped rotor skewing and rotor teeth non-uniformity, are researched to reduce the torque ripple of 12/10 (stator/rotor-pole ratio) VFRMs. Based on semi-analytic results and finite-element simulations, the effectiveness of these two methods is validated in both non-saturated and saturated machines.</p

Analysis and design of a slotless tubular permanent magnet actuator for high acceleration applications

This paper presents the design of a linear actuator for high acceleration applications. In the analysis, a slotless tubular permanent magnet actuator is modeled by means of semianalytical field solutions. Several slotless topologies are modeled and compared to achieve the highest acceleration. A design has been proposed and built, and measurements are conducted to verify the model

The potential of adjusting water bolus liquid properties for economic and precise MR thermometry guided radiofrequency hyperthermia

The potential of MR thermometry (MRT) fostered the development of MRI compatible radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia devices. Such device integration creates major technological challenges and a crucial point for image quality is the water bolus (WB). The WB is located between the patient body and external sources to both couple electromagnetic energy and to cool the patient skin. However, the WB causes MRT errors and unnecessarily large field of view. In this work, we studied making the WB MRI transparent by an optimal concentration of compounds capable of modifying T2 * relaxation without an impact on the efficiency of RF heating. Three different T2 * reducing compounds were investigated, namely CuSO4, MnCl2, and Fe3 O4. First, electromagnetic properties and T2 * relaxation rates at 1.5 T were measured. Next, through multi-physics simulations, the predicted effect on the RF-power deposition pattern was evaluated and MRT precision was experimentally assessed. Our results identified 5 mM Fe3 O4 solution as optimal since it does not alter the RF-power level needed and improved MRT precision from 0.39◦ C to 0.09◦ C. MnCl2 showed a similar MRT improvement, but caused unacceptable RF-power losses. We conclude that adding Fe3 O4 has significant potential to improve RF hyperthermia treatment monitoring under MR guidance

The potential of time-multiplexed steering by temperature optimization in microwave hyperthermia

Introduction: In clinical practice at Erasmus MC, the target-to-hotspot-quotient (THQ) of the specific absorption rate (SAR) is used to optimize phases and amplitudes of the signals to be applied to the hyperthermia applicator [1]. Recent research showed that the ratio between tumor and healthy tissue temperatures can be increased when amplitudes and phases are time-multiplexed when applying SAR optimization [2]. However, direct temperature optimization achieves higher tumor temperatures when considering time-multiplexed antenna steering [3]. In this work, we investigated the benefit of time-multiplexed steering when applying temperature optimization in models of patients with tumors on the head and neck region. Methods: For five patients with a tumor in the head and neck region, a Sim4Life model was created and treatment planning was applied for the HyperCollar3D. A single distribution SAR based THQ optimization was performed for reference. A novel temperature optimization scheme was developed, which optimizes the tumor temperature for the first 15 minutes of the treatment. This results in higher tumor temperatures throughout the treatment by explicitly including the transient effects in the optimization. The evaluation was based on simulations of the full treatment time of 75 minutes, with the total power scaled to reach maximum 43°C in the tumor. Performance was evaluated by comparing T50 for both healthy and tumor tissue during treatment. Results: The ratio between T50 in the healthy and tumor tissue was improved when using the novel temperature-based optimization for time-multiplexed distributions (Figure 1C). The SAR THQ showed a lower ratio for the time-multiplexed solution, this is resolved in the temperature simulations (Figure 2).Conclusion/Discussion: The resulting T50 values, show that the temperatures during treatment might benefit from the temperature optimized with the multiplexed steering approach: either the temperature in the tumor tissue can be higher or the temperature in healthy tissue could remain lower. Although the approach seems beneficial, assessment of the impact of uncertainties in thermal parameters and inclusion of a larger dataset is still required to assess the significance of the improvement and the expected clinical benefit [4]. <br/

An MR-compatible antenna and application in a murine superficial hyperthermia applicator

In this work, a novel magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible microwave antenna was designed and validated in a small animal superficial hyperthermia applicator. The antenna operates at 2.45 GHz and matching is made robust against production and setup inaccuracies. To validate our theoretical concept, a prototype of the applicator was manufactured and tested for its properties concerning input reflection, sensitivity for setup inaccuracies, environment temperature stability and MR-compatibility. The experiments show that the applicator indeed fulfils the requirements for MR-guided hyperthermia investigation in small animals: it creates a small heating focus (<1 cm3), has a stable and reliable performance (S11< −15 dB) for all working conditions and is MR-compatible

An MR-compatible antenna and application in a murine superficial hyperthermia applicator

In this work, a novel magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible microwave antenna was designed and validated in a small animal superficial hyperthermia applicator. The antenna operates at 2.45 GHz and matching is made robust against production and setup inaccuracies. To validate our theoretical concept, a prototype of the applicator was manufactured and tested for its properties concerning input reflection, sensitivity for setup inaccuracies, environment temperature stability and MR-compatibility. The experiments show that the applicator indeed fulfils the requirements for MR-guided hyperthermia investigation in small animals: it creates a small heating focus (&lt;1 cm 3 ), has a stable and reliable performance (S 11 &lt; −15 dB) for all working conditions and is MR-compatible. </p

Systematic review of pre-clinical and clinical devices for magnetic resonance-guided radiofrequency hyperthermia

Clinical trials have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of adding radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia (HT) as an adjuvant to radio- and chemotherapy. However, maximum utilization of these benefits is hampered by the current inability to maintain the temperature within the desired range. RF HT treatment quality is usually monitored by invasive temperature sensors, which provide limited data sampling and are prone to infection risks. Magnetic resonance (MR) temperature imaging has been developed to overcome these hurdles by allowing noninvasive 3D temperature monitoring in the target and normal tissues. To exploit this feature, several approaches for inserting the RF heating devices into the MR scanner have been proposed over the years. In this review, we summarize the status quo in MR-guided RF HT devices and analyze trends in these hybrid hardware configurations. In addition, we discuss the various approaches, extract best practices and identify gaps regarding the experimental validation procedures for MR - RF HT, aimed at converging to a common standard in this process

Candidates of motor drives for 48V automotive applications

Abstract-In automotive systems, reliability and cost are paramount for the success of electrical drive systems. Considering the interior permanent magnet motor, the cost of the rareearth permanent magnet is becoming a big concern. In this paper, the switched reluctance motor, variable flux reluctance motor and synchronous reluctance motor are analyzed and compared as candidates for the 48V automotive applications. A recommendation is given for the selection of the motor drives