Analysis of AFPM machines with cylindrically shaped magnets using quasi-3D method

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the fast and accurate modelling of surface-mounted Axial-Flux Permanent-Magnet (AFPM) machines equipped with cylindrical magnets using quasi-3D approach. Furthermore, the accuracy of the method is improved by using leakage coefficient, saturation coefficient and an appropriate permeance function.

Design/methodology/approach

Quasi-3D approach is used for fast and accurate modelling of AFPM machines. Air-gap flux density distribution, induced back EMF, and produced cogging torque are calculated using the proposed method with reasonable accuracy.

Findings

The results obtained by quasi-3D approach compared to Finite-Element-Analyses (FEA) shows how accurate, fast and efficient this method is. It is proved that, this method can be successfully applied to evaluate the performance of the AFPM machines.

Originality/value

Effectiveness and accuracy of quasi-3D approach is assessed on different AFPM machines. Furthermore, to increase the accuracy of computations, the effects of the magnetic potential drop at iron parts of the machine are taken into account by using a saturation coefficient. Besides, the influence of the slot opening on the flux density distribution is taken into account by using an appropriate relative permeance function.

Citation

Rostami, N. and Rostami, M. (2017), "Analysis of AFPM machines with cylindrically shaped magnets using quasi-3D method", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 36 No. 4, pp. 1168-1183. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-10-2016-0463