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In this article, a new dual-permanent magnet spoke-type flux-reversal machine (dual-PM SFRM) for direct-drive applications is proposed. Tangentially magnetized permanent magnets (PMs) sandwiched with iron poles are set in stator slots. To increase the torque density within the geometric restrictions, PMs are introduced in the rotor as well and magnetized radially to form a consequent-pole rotor. Global optimizations are conducted and comparisons are made on torque, torque ripple, and torque/PM volume with the existing single-PM SFRM. It is found that the proposed dual-PM SFRM can produce 22.6% larger torque with an optimal PM volume and a 17.5% larger torque with the same PM volume compared with the single-PM counterpart. Moreover, major magnetic field space harmonics are derived analytically and verified by finite-element analysis (FEA) and the torque components produced by the working harmonics are calculated and compared in terms of different stator/rotor pole number combinations. Comparisons are made on back electromotive force, cogging torque, torque performance, and efficiency between dual-PM SFRM and conventional flux-reversal machine. The influence of different stator configurations, i.e., the slot opening, the iron bridge, and the unequal tooth, on torque performance in the proposed dual-PM SFRM has been studied and highlighted. A prototype has been built and tested to validate the FEA calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid analytical and lumped-parameter thermal model is proposed in this paper to estimate the transient and steady-state two- and three-dimensional (2/3-D) spatial magnet temperature distributions for an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM). On the basis of a lumped-parameter thermal model (LPTM), the magnet analytical thermal models (ATMs) are synergized to establish the hybrid thermal model. By utilizing the transient or steady-state boundary conditions calculated by the LPTM, the ATMs are obtained by solving the heat conduction equations to estimate the spatial magnet temperature distributions in the 2-D horizontal-vertical and axial-vertical planes, which can also be extended to the 3-D temperature distribution by utilizing the multi-slice method. Meanwhile, the non-uniform magnet eddy current loss is also considered. Finally, both electromagnetic-thermal coupled finite element analysis method and experiments are used for verification based on a totally enclosed IPMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumped-parameter thermal models (LPTMs) have been widely used to estimate critical temperatures in permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs). However, in some cases, they may be incapable of predicting the hotspots and even cause temperature misestimation. In this paper, the synergized lumped-parameter and sub-domain thermal models are proposed for surface-mounted PMSMs to track the hotspots in the most vulnerable components, i.e., active/end-windings and rotor magnet. Firstly, the “T-type” elementary network based LPTM is developed to predict the average temperatures in main components and the boundary conditions. Secondly, the boundary conditions are applied to three sub-domain thermal models for the active/end-windings and the rotor magnet to predict the respective hotspots and to further correct the misestimated average temperatures. Finally, the proposed synergized thermal model is verified by the experiments on a prototype surface-mounted PMSM under various load conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consequent-pole (CP) permanent magnet (PM) configuration suffers asymmetric electromagnetic characteristics although it saves PM usage. The CP-based stator-PM synchronous machines are investigated in this paper, with particular reference to symmetrical issues. The electromagnetic performances of the CP-based stator-PM synchronous machines are firstly evaluated. Afterwards, the rule of even order harmonics cancellation is presented for different slot/pole number combinations and winding layouts, based on which symmetrical phase flux-linkages can be obtained although the unbalanced magnetic flux naturally occurs. Moreover, based on the three-dimensional finite element analysis, the unipolar end leakage-flux caused by the asymmetric magnetic field is identified, and the risk of the shaft magnetization is revealed. Finally, a pair of prototype machines are fabricated and measured to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage induced in the dc winding by the armature field in wound field switched flux (WFSF) machines will induce voltage perturbation in the voltage supply and cause dc winding current ripple and field excitation fluctuation. This will challenge the dc voltage controller and deteriorate the control performance, especially when the load and/or the rotor speed are high. In this article, the dual three-phase armature winding design with a phase-shift of 30 electrical degrees is employed in the partitioned stator WFSF machines to reduce the on-load dc winding-induced voltage. Analytical deductions and finite element (FE) results demonstrate that the dominant sixth-order-induced voltage harmonic can be suppressed to zero. Hence, the peak-to-peak induced voltage in the 12/11- and 12/13-pole partitioned stator WFSF machines can be reduced by 83.35% and 82.53%, respectively. Due to the improvement of winding factors, the torque densities are 4.85% and 5.60% higher, respectively. Prototypes are built and tested to verify the analytical and FE results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) rotor topologies can achieve torque enhancement in IPM synchronous machines without the increase of PM usage due to utilizing magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect by reducing the current angle difference between maximum PM and reluctance torque components. This paper investigates the influence of armature reaction on MFS effect in AIPM machines. A general model of IPM machines considering MFS effect is analytically developed and the AIPM and IPM machines using the same stator, rotor diameter and total PM amount are comparatively studied. It shows that the armature reaction affects the MFS effect in both AIPM and IPM machines and the influence is more significant in AIPM machine. The relationships between MFS effects in PM flux-linkage and inductance characteristics and current angles for maximum PM and reluctance torque components are revealed. It confirms that the change of current angles of torque components is due to the MFS effect in PM flux-linkage and inductance characteristics in both AIPM and IPM machines. Besides, the developed machine model considering MFS effect is verified by finite element analysis. Finally, a small-scale AIPM machine prototype is fabricated and measured to validate the finite element analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consequent-pole (CP) permanent magnet (PM) machines have attracted considerable interest as a means of reducing machine cost through a marked reduction in the volume of PM required to meet a particular torque specification. However, the presence of a large torque ripple that can result from the CPPM structure can hinder their adoption in some applications, especially for the dominant third-order torque ripple. Although several design-specific modifications have been proposed to ameliorate torque ripple, the generalized principles underpinning this behavior have not been fully established. In this article, it will be illustrated that an aggregation of the fluctuations in inductance, back electromotive force, and cogging torque contributes to increased torque ripple. Meanwhile, an asymmetric pole shaping method is proposed to reduce the torque ripple, taking the dominant third-order torque ripple as an example. Both simulated and experimental results of the 12-slot/8-pole prototypes show that compared to the symmetrical pole shaping model and the plain pole model, the proposed asymmetric shaping method is effective in reducing torque ripple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consequent pole (CP) permanent magnet (PM) machines offer scope for reducing the quantity of PM material and hence cost compared to more conventional PM machine topologies of the same rating. In this type of machine, the rotor pole arc is usually optimized to realize the largest output torque with pole shaping methods used to reduce torque ripple. However, such approaches tend to be limited by constraints imposed on the pole shapes. It is a common practice to adopt similar PM and iron pole shapes, an approach that does not fully account for the different characteristics of PM and iron poles in CPPM machines, often leading to large even order harmonics in the airgap flux density. This article proposes a shaping method with a variable rotor profile and pole arc span being established by means of optimization by Genetic Algorithm. It is demonstrated that for a fixed quantity of PM material, different PM and iron pole shapes in combination with optimal PM and iron pole arc spans are essential for ensuring both maximum output torque and lower torque ripple when the due account is taken of flux leakage. It also demonstrates that since the flux density in the region under a PM pole is governed by the magnetic potential produced by magnets while it is governed by magnetic reluctance under iron pole, different PM pole and iron pole shapes are necessary to reduce the even-order harmonics in a CPPM machine and consequently to reduce torque ripple. The performances of optimized and more conventional CP machines are compared by finite-element method on 12-slot/8-pole prototype motors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an improved sensorless control method for permanent magnet synchronous machines under phase resistance asymmetry. The proposed method acquires positive sequence current and voltage signals by applying a sequence component extractor and a double synchronous reference frame current control strategy. These signals can, then, be applied to improve the extended electromotive force based sensorless observer to eliminate the undesired second-order fluctuation in position and speed estimation due to asymmetric phase resistances. In addition, the resistance deviations, which may be due to asymmetric resistances and temperature variation, could introduce dc offset error in rotor position estimation. Therefore, a model reference adaptive system based resistance estimation is employed to compensate for inaccuracy of resistances. Moreover, from the information contained in the negative sequence voltages, the specific values of all asymmetric phase resistances can be estimated as well. Experimental and simulation results are provided to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an online rotor position error correction method is proposed to eliminate the impact of parameter mismatch in sensorless control for dual three-phase (DTP) permanent magnet synchronous machines drives. The rotor position error production mechanism is first derived and shows that the error changes with the trend of current variation when there is a parameter mismatch. Based on this mechanism, by injecting sinusoidal current signals with low frequency and small amplitude into both sets of three-phase windings, the presence of parameter mismatch and its level can be revealed from the corresponding sinusoidal responses of the estimated speed of sensorless observers, which do not depend on the inertia of the machine. Since the amplitudes of these responses decrease as the parameter mismatch level reduces, with the help of the least mean square algorithm, the parameters can be adaptively adjusted to the actual values, and the position error can be thus corrected. Moreover, with the extra freedom of DTP machines, the detrimental effects on torque production due to current signal injections can be eliminated through adjusting the phase between the two injected signals. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated through simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes and investigates two asymmetric consequent-pole hybrid excited flux reversal machine (AS-CP-HEFRM) topologies, which have same numbers of iron poles and permanent magnets (PMs) with concentrated ac and dc windings on each stator pole and a salient pole rotor. If PM number on one stator pole is larger than 1, PMs are magnetized radially in the same direction on one stator pole, while opposite on adjacent stator poles. The phenomenon of the phase shift between the flux linkages of dc and PM excitations in the AS-CP-HEFRMs is revealed for the first time, which will weaken the regulation of dc excitation field to PM produced field. The elimination condition of the phase shift is derived and verified by finite-element analysis in this article, which can be considered as design guidelines in AS-CP-HEFRMs. Airgap magnetic field space harmonics of AS-CP-HEFRM are also investigated and verified by finite-element analyses. Meanwhile, the relationship between the rotor pole number and the stator pole arc (PM ratio) is derived and verified by global optimization based on genetic algorithm for maximum average torque. The influence of stator/rotor pole number combinations is also studied and compared in terms of torque, torque ripple, and flux regulation capability. The torque components produced by airgap magnetic field space harmonics are calculated and compared. A prototype has been built and tested to validate the finite element calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a novel asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) rotor topology that has a mixed V-shape and spoke-type PM configuration, designated as a 1.5-layer PM structure, and asymmetric arrangement of V-shape PMs and asymmetric flux barriers. The AIPM rotor topology is employed for IPM synchronous machines to utilize the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect for increasing average torque by reducing the current angle difference between peak PM and reluctance torque components. Three machines, i.e., the proposed 1.5-layer AIPM, a symmetrical 1.5-layer IPM-I, and a conventional V-shape benchmark IPM-II are designed and optimized using the same stator, rotor diameter, and total PM usage by global parametric optimization considering the mechanical stress. The effect of asymmetric features of the 1.5-layer AIPM rotor design, i.e., asymmetry of V-shape cavity as well as position and dimensions of flux barrier, on maximum torque and open-circuit air-gap field are investigated. The electromagnetic performances of three machines are compared. It confirms that the proposed AIPM machine has the highest maximum torque and the smallest cogging torque simultaneously. It is also revealed that the torque enhancement is achieved by both the 1.5-layer structure and MFS effect. Finally, a prototype of an AIPM machine is manufactured and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a novel asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) rotor topology for torque enhancement and torque ripple reduction in IPM synchronous machines. The AIPM rotor structure is featured by a hybrid-layer permanent magnet configuration, i.e., for each pole, a part of PM configuration has one-layer while the other part has two layers. It allows the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect to be utilized by reducing the current angle difference between maximum PM and reluctance torque components, thereby effectively increasing the maximum resultant torque. The proposed AIPM machine and a conventional V-shape IPM machine are designed and globally parametric optimized with the same 24-slot/4-pole stator, rotor diameter, and PM usage. The influence of key rotor geometric parameters of the AIPM machine on torque and open-circuit air-gap magnetic field characteristics are investigated. The comparison of electromagnetic performance confirms that significant torque enhancement and torque ripple reduction in the AIPM machine compared with the conventional V-shape IPM machine and reveals the MFS effect is essential for torque increase. Finally, an AIPM machine is manufactured and tested for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) machine is proposed in this paper for electric vehicle application. It has a skewed V-shape permanent magnet (PM) cavity, two PMs with different dimensions and an additional flux barrier outside the V-shape cavity in each pole. This asymmetric rotor topology can inherently utilize the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect to reduce the current angle difference between the maximum PM and reluctance torque components, thereby enhancing the maximum synthetic torque with the same PM usage. The influences of cavity positions in the proposed AIPM and an existing AIPM with extra flux barrier inside the V-shape cavity are investigated and compared using finite element analysis. It is found that the proposed structure with outside flux barrier has higher average torque than the one with inside flux barrier. Both AIPM topologies are designed with the same stator, rotor diameter, and PM usage as the conventional V-shape IPM benchmark for Prius 2010. Electromagnetic, mechanical and steady-state thermal performance of three machines are compared. The results confirm that the proposed AIPM machine can achieve significant torque enhancement due to utilizing MFS effect, compared with the existing AIPM and the IPM benchmark. Finally, a small prototype of the proposed AIPM machine is designed, manufactured and tested to validate the FE analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid excited machines, with synergies of permanent magnet (PM) and wound field (WF) excitations, exhibit high torque density as well as controllable flux and are perceived as promising candidate for variable speed application. A novel doubly salient hybrid excited (DSHE) machine with non-overlapped field winding is presented in this paper. It inherits simple structure of conventional doubly salient PM (DSPM) machine and facilitates the regulation of magnetic field by field winding. The electromagnetic performances of the proposed machine with different stator and rotor pole number combinations are investigated by finite element method (FEM), confirming these advantages. Furthermore, the effect of iron bridge on the hybridization between PM and WF excitations is analyzed to obtain a trade-off between high torque density and wide flux regulation range with the frozen permeability method (FPM). It is revealed that the proposed DSHE machine possesses higher power and fault tolerance at flux weakening region compared with the DSPM machine, albeit with sacrificed torque density and efficiency with introduction of field winding. Finally, a prototype is fabricated and tested to validate the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The induced voltage ripple in DC field windings can cause many problems in hybrid excitation machines (HEMs). It can generate ripple current in field winding, thus causing unsteady magnetic field excitation and hence additional torque ripple and losses. Besides, the torque and power density of hybrid excitation machines may be deteriorated as a result of the influence of the induced voltage ripple on field winding's excitation circuit, particularly under high-speed conditions. Based on a hybrid excitation switched flux machine (HESFM), the influence of stator slot and rotor pole number combination on no-load and on-load field winding induced voltage ripples are studied and compared by the finite element method (FEM). It reveals that the harmonic content and thus the peak-to-peak value of the field winding induced voltage ripple are closely related to the stator slot and rotor pole number combination at both no-load and on-load operating conditions. The FEM calculations are verified by experiments on a prototype HESFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spoke array permanent magnet (PM) flux reversal machines (SAFRPMMs), which are suitable for low speed and high torque applications, are able to enhance torque density due to the flux focusing effect. In this paper, what influence both the number of PM per slot and the PM shape have on their electromagnetic performance are investigated. The results show that both the PM number and the PM shape have significant effects on the performance of SAFRPMMs, and proper selections are critical in designing high performance machines. When the PM number per slot is 2, the SAFRPMM exhibits the best electromagnetic performances, i.e., the highest torque, power, efficiency, and power factor. Meanwhile, by properly designing the PM shape, the torque can be further improved by around 11%. A prototype is made and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a simple position error correction method is proposed to minimize the influence of parameter deviation on the model-based rotor position estimation, with the help of two sets of windings in a dual 3-phase permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). In the proposed method, when each set of 3-phase windings is individually used for sensorless rotor position estimation, the nominal parameters that are set in each observer are identical but inaccurate, which leads to errors in the estimated rotor position from both observers. Since the error is varied according to the current level, small current pulses are injected respectively into d- or q-axis of one set (or both set) of 3-phase windings, which causes the difference between the rotor position estimation errors from two sets of 3-phase windings. This difference is subsequently used as the input of an updated controller to minimize the parameter deviation and the corresponding rotor position error. The proposed method is experimentally validated on a dual 3-phase PMSM system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates novel fractional slot nonoverlapping winding hybrid excited (HE) machines with consequent-pole permanent magnet (PM) rotors. The proposed machines accommodate the rotor PM and stator field winding separately, which has solved the spatial confliction of double excitations. Different consequent-pole interior PM rotor configurations are extended to retain the PMs and utilize the flux-concentrating effect. Then, the relationship of field and armature current ratio with the PM and wound field fluxes is identified theoretically, which provides design and optimization guidelines for the HE machines. Furthermore, the HE machines are optimized and compared with conventional PM machines. It is revealed that the HE machines exhibit enhanced torque density with flux-enhancing field excitation, and extended operation range with flux-weakening field excitation. Besides, the HE machine utilizing flux-concentrating effect exhibits the highest PM torque but sacrificed flux regulation capability due to magnetic saturation. Finally, the HE prototypes with different rotor configurations are fabricated and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new type of consequent pole flux reversal permanent magnet (CFRPM) machine, which features more iron poles than PM poles under one stator tooth, is proposed to improve the torque density. The proposed CFRPM machine with 6 slots and 16 poles (6S16P) is compared with a 12S16P FRPM machine and its consequent pole type, as well as a conventional 6S4P surface-mounted PM (SPM) machine. The proposed 6S16P CFRPM shows the highest torque among the four machines, together with the highest torque per PM volume. For a fair comparison with the 12S16P FRPM machine and its consequent pole type, the torque ripple of the proposed 6S16P CFRPM is suppressed by using two-step skewed rotor. After employing 4° two-step skewed rotor, while exhibits comparable torque ripple, the proposed 6S16P CFRPM still has 43% and 22% higher torque compared with the 12S16P FRPM machine and its consequent pole type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new simple rotor initial position detection method for permanent magnet machines is proposed in this article. It is based on the magnetic saturation effect, which is commonly used by existing methods. Different from the conventional methods utilizing phase current or phase voltage sensors, the dc-link voltage sensor is used to estimate the rotor initial position. In the proposed method, a specific excitation approach is used to enhance the performance and a so-called “equivalent injection position” is developed to simplify the estimation process. The proposed method can achieve a 30° estimation resolution. Besides, practical considerations, including the dc-link voltage measurement errors, dc-link resistance, dc-link capacitance, and dc-link voltage ripples, are discussed in this article. A guideline of voltage pulse selection is presented to minimize the impact of these practical issues. Moreover, it is found that as the dc-link resistance increases, the proposed method shows a better estimation performance than the conventional methods. Besides, the proposed method is insensitive to sensor measurement errors. The experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a current profiling technique is proposed for the torque density enhancement in switched reluctance machines (SRMs). The novel current profile is initially developed from the harmonic current injection method and is then modified into a unipolar waveform to allow the application of an asymmetric bridge inverter. It is found that, neglecting the magnetic saturation, the optimal current profile for the maximum torque per ampere operation in an SRM is close to a pulse with high-order harmonics. However, an optimized current with relatively low-order harmonics can provide better performance in the practical situation. Based on the analytical and the finite element results, the proposed method is proved to be able to enhance the torque density by 20% at the light load condition and by 15% at the rated condition compared with the conventional SRM excitation. Also, the large torque ripple and core loss in SRMs are suppressed and the efficiency is improved. More importantly, unlike many other current profiling techniques, the proposed current profile has fixed parameters and is easily adaptable to different machine specifications. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by both the finite-element analyses and the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second harmonic current injection method is recently developed to enhance the torque density of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs). This article investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of the second harmonic current injection method in VFRMs with different stator/rotor pole combinations. By using magnetic gearing effect, it is found that the second harmonic injection method can only be applied to the 6j/(6i ± 2)j (i, j = 0, 1, 2…) stator/rotor pole VFRMs for the torque density enhancement. For the other stator/rotor pole combinations, the second harmonic current has no contribution in average torque production but only leads to excessive torque ripple. Further, by using global optimization method and finite element analysis, 6/8 stator/rotor pole combination is proved to be the optimal stator/rotor pole combination for 6-stator-slots VFRMs with the second harmonic current injection method, being able to exceed the maximal torque density of conventional VFRMs by 12% at a fixed copper loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, various fundamental model based sensorless control methods have been proposed. However, most of them are developed under a healthy condition. Hence, in this article, fundamental model based sensorless control of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) under rotor eccentricity (RE) is investigated which is a common issue in many drive systems. It is known that under RE, three-phase back-EMFs, flux-linkages, inductances, and torque will be influenced. Mathematical derivation reveals that these effects will cause undesired harmonics in the position estimation. Since the frequencies of these low-order harmonics are much smaller than the bandwidth of position observer such as phase-locked loop, it is difficult to effectively eliminate them. Hence, the conventional back-EMF method is modified by adding an adaptive notch filter to suppress these undesired harmonics. Furthermore, the RE effects on PMSM characteristics are examined by measurements. The modified position estimator is implemented on a dSPACE platform and is verified by experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid excited (HE) machines have the synergies of high torque density and high efficiency of permanent magnet (PM) machines and excellent flux controllability of wound-field machines. The PMs and field coils (FCs) coexist in HE machines to provide excitations simultaneously, and can be coupled either in series or parallel. The topologies of HE machines are very diverse, which bring challenges in the selection and design of HE machines. Based on the partitioned stator (PS) platform, a pair of series and parallel HE machines having similar structures and PM usage are evaluated and compared to identify their merits and demerits. With the help of finite element analysis, the flux regulation, energy conversion capability, parasitic effects and irreversible demagnetization of the two kinds of the HE machines are comprehensively investigated and the guidance to the machine design is provided. A pair of prototypes are fabricated and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide the general guidance in constructing the novel modular machines with redundant teeth, the available slot and pole number combinations based on the balanced conditions are summarized in this article. After the brief review of the machine structure, the general slot and pole number combinations are listed: Firstly, the conventional modular machines used to construct the proposed modular machines need to possess integer times of 3 repetitive machine units. Each machine unit should construct as a 3-phase type. Then, a redundant machine unit providing the redundant teeth for modularity is necessary. This redundant machine only has one pole pair to make sure the space waste is minimal. The slot number of this redundant machine is determined by the greatest common divisor of the slot and pole pair numbers of the conventional modular machine. Finally, the combination of the conventional modular machine and the redundant one generates the proposed modular machine. In order to clearly illustrate the influence of slot and pole number combinations on machine performance, four combinations are chosen as examples to be compared. A 42-slot/32-pole machine is prototyped and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, spoke array permanent magnet (PM) flux reversal machines (SAPM FRM), which feature spoke array PMs distributed along the stator inner surface, are proposed to improve the torque density. Compared with the conventional surface mounted PM flux reversal machine (SPM FRM), the proposed SAPM FRM can produce about 100% larger torque with negligible torque ripple, as well as higher efficiency and higher power factor. Two prototypes have been built and tested to validate the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a consequent-pole flux reversal machine (CP-FRM) with biased flux modulation theory, which employs homopolar permanent magnets (PMs) placed between the adjacent stator poles. The machine topology is introduced from the perspective of FRM with a shifted magnet position and CP arrangement, and the performance comparison between the proposed CP-FRM and its original surface-mounted PM (SPM) counterpart is presented to highlight the torque improvement of the CP structure. Then, a simplified permeance model is applied to the CP-FRM to identify the principal effective air-gap field harmonics engaging in the torque productions. It shows that the CP-FRM works based on a biased flux modulation effect due to its asymmetric air-gap field distribution caused by the CP configuration, which unveils its underlying torque improvement mechanism over its SPM-FRM counterpart. In order to obtain the highest torque capability, the key design parameters are analytically optimized by analyzing the winding configuration, which aids the establishment of a general design guideline for the CP-FRM. The analytical and FE results are validated by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wound-field (WF) switched flux (SF) (WFSF) machines, the DC winding induced voltage pulsation causes current ripple in the DC winding and challenges the DC power source, and deteriorates the control performance. In this paper, the induced voltage pulsation in DC winding of five-phase WFSF machines is analyzed and its reduction methods are proposed. The cycles per electric period of the open-circuit and armature reaction induced voltage pulsation in DC winding are derived analytically. Modifying the airgap permeance by optimizing the rotor pole arc or chamfering the rotor pole surface, and axial pairing of rotor segments having rotor pole with different arcs are used to suppress the induced voltage pulsation in DC winding, with >90% average torque maintained. Finite element results show that, by optimizing the rotor pole arc, the peak-to-peak value of the induced voltage pulsation in DC winding can be effectively suppressed to 59.59%, 30.67%, 29.99% and 43.35% for the 10-stator-pole five-phase WFSF machines with 8-, 9-, 11- and 12-rotor-pole rotors, respectively. By applying rotor pole surface shaping, the induced voltage pulsation in DC winding peak-to-peak value can be effectively suppressed to 61.76%, 45.47% and 40.21% for the 8-, 9- and 12-rotor-pole machines, respectively, while by applying axial pairing, it can be suppressed to 46.89%, 7.16%, 15.64% and 12.04%, respectively. The 10-stator-pole/12-rotor-pole WFSF machines having the original rotor, optimized rotor, chamfered rotor and axial paired rotor are prototyped and the experiments validate the analytical and finite element results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel parallel hybrid excited (HE) machine with wide flux regulation range is proposed in this paper. The flux paths of permanent magnet (PM) and field winding are separated to avoid irreversible demagnetization and achieve improved flux regulation capability. Since the field winding and armature winding are located in the same stator slots, open-winding drive circuit can be employed to feed biased ac excitation in one set of winding and solve the spatial confliction of conventional hybrid excited machine. Finite element (FE) method is utilized to analyze the electromagnetic performances of the proposed HE machine, in comparison with the original HE machine. It is revealed that the proposed HE machine exhibits lower PM excited back-electromotive force (EMF), which is beneficial to high speed fault tolerant operation. Besides, the torque density can be higher with flux enhancing, albeit with reduced PM usage. Finally, a prototype is manufactured and tested to validate the FE predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to ease the manufacture process of very large permanent magnet (PM) machines, such as direct drive wind power generators, modularity technique is usually adopted. Although conventional fractional slot PM machines with all teeth wound windings show good performance, the coils located at the end part of each segment could be easily damaged because of being exposed to the air. In addition, the local winding faults could easily proliferate to the whole machine due to the physical touch of adjacent coils. Thus, a novel modular fractional slot PM machine with redundant teeth is proposed in this paper, while three phases within each set of winding are still balanced. The construction of the proposed modular PM machine having 42-slots/32-poles (42S/32P) combination is described in detail as an example, which can be treated as the integration of six 6S/5P segments and a redundant 6S/2P machine. The reason for using 6S/2P machine is to get rid of the undesirable unbalanced magnetic force (UMF), which usually exists in rotating asymmetric machines, such as 3S/2P PM machine. Since the end part of each segment in the proposed modular PM machine can be covered by half redundant tooth during the production, more protection can be provided for coils located in these regions. Furthermore, the separation of six segments can improve the fault-tolerant capability of the machine. The electromagnetic performance predicted by finite-element analysis (FEA) also demonstrates that the proposed modular machine will perform better if dual three-phase winding is adopted. Finally, the experiments on the prototyped machine validate the analysis in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the safe-critical applications such as electric/hybrid electric vehicles, the reliability of the machine drive system is vital. Among the various machine fault types, the uncontrolled generator fault (UCGF) at high speed is one of the most serious faults that could damage the machine drive system. In this paper, the fault protection capability of a novel hybrid-excited doubly salient synchronous machine (HEDSSM) is examined to illustrate its great capability to prevent the dangerous overvoltage issue from the UCGF. Permanent magnet flux of the novel HEDSSM is inherently short-circuited when the field excitation current is not fed into the excitation windings. Therefore, when the UCGF is detected in the high-speed region, the dc-link overvoltage issue can be effectively reduced by forcing the field excitation current to zero. Since only the field excitation current is utilized to protect the machine and power inverter from the UCGF, it is easy to implement and the concept of proposed control strategy can also be applied to other hybrid-excited machines. Finally, the proposed control strategy is verified by both simulation and experimental results on the HEDSSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For hybrid-excited doubly salient synchronous machine, both the field excitation current and the d-axis current can be utilized to adjust the flux-linkage, which provides more flexible control parameters for flux-weakening operation. In this paper, three flux-weakening control methods, i.e., utilizing field excitation current alone (Method I), utilizing armature current alone (Method II), and optimal method (Method III), are proposed and compared. All three methods can achieve similar torque performance in the constant-torque region. In the flux-weakening region, Method I exhibits low torque and limited operating speed range. The operating speed range can be further extended by Methods II and III. In addition, Method III can provide a higher efficiency in flux-weakening region than Method II since the copper loss of field winding can be decreased in proportion to the reduction of field excitation current. Those flux-weakening control methods are verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel modular stator hybrid-excited synchronous machine with stator slot permanent magnets (PMs). By regulating the field current, the magnetic field, and consequently the back electromotive force, as well as the average torque can be controlled. The existence of stator slot PMs alleviates the magnetic saturation and improves the flux regulation ratio. The frozen permeability method is employed to investigate the torque contributions by different magnetic sources. Possible stator and rotor pole combinations are illustrated, and the corresponding electromagnetic performances are evaluated with the finite-element method. It is revealed that 12-stator pole machines with 11- and 13-rotor poles exhibit superior average torque and lower torque ripple due to even-order harmonics elimination. Finally, a prototype with modular stator segments is manufactured to validate the analyses and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the influence of number of permanent magnet (PM) pieces on electromagnetic performance of flux reversal permanent magnet (FRPM) machines. First, the unified analytical model of FRPM machines having different numbers of PM pieces is established, from which the optimal number of PM pieces and the corresponding rotor pole number can be identified. It shows that by employing the optimal number of PM pieces instead of the conventional two on each stator tooth, additional back-EMF component can be generated which is beneficial to boost the machine performance. Then, the influence of critical design parameters including stator slot opening ratio, split ratio, and stator slot number is investigated, providing a guidance to the design of FRPM machines aiming at maximum output torque. In addition, both finite element analyses and experimental tests are conducted to verify the analytical analyses. For 6-slot-stator FRPM machines, experimental results show that more than 40% higher output torque can be achieved in the machine with optimal number of PM pieces when compared to the conventional one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid permanent-magnet (PM) variable-flux memory (VFM) machines employ both high coercive force PM, i.e., the constant PM (CPM), and low coercive force PM, i.e., the variable PM (VPM). The high energy-product CPM guarantees the benefits of high torque density of the conventional PM machines, while the PM magnetization state of the VPM is flexibly regulated to match various operation requirements. In fact, the two kinds of PMs can be magnetically connected in either parallel or series, with which the machine characteristics are quite different. In this paper, based on the two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite-element analyses, a pair of VFM machines with parallel and series connections, respectively, are investigated with specific reference to identify their difference in end effects. The comparison results show that the series hybrid PM VFM machine suffers more serious end leakage flux. The prototype machines are manufactured and tested to validate the analyses and predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the torque production and the torque ripple reduction of a six-stator/seven-rotor-pole (6/7) variable flux reluctance machine (VFRM). As a main advantage, the 6/7 VFRM produces higher torque density, but less torque ripple compared with the 6/4 VFRM. The instantaneous torque equation of the 6/7 VFRM is derived by considering the spectra of the winding inductance and current. Based on the derived equation, the average torque is found to be mainly produced by the mutual inductance between the field and armature windings. The even-order harmonics of self-inductance and odd-order harmonics in mutual inductance between the field and armature windings are eliminated due to the opposite polarity connection of the armature coils in each phase. This results in the elimination of the third harmonic torque ripple, while a multiple of the sixth harmonic torque ripple exists. In order to mitigate the sixth harmonic torque ripple, the harmonic current injection method is implemented into the field winding. The field harmonic current is calculated from the analytical torque ripple equation. The performance of the proposed methods is verified by both finite element analysis (FEA) and experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of three-phase stator hybrid excited machine with permanent magnets (PMs) located at the slot openings of field winding slots is presented in this paper. It has the advantage of good flux regulation capability due to the field excitation. The machines with different stator/rotor pole combinations, i.e., 6-stator pole and 7-/8-/10-/11-/13-/14-rotor poles, have been comparatively investigated in terms of the open-circuit and on-load characteristics, as well as the influence of dc current and the unbalanced magnetic forces. The 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) has been employed for analysis and optimization of the machines together with experimental validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the open-circuit dc-winding-induced voltage in a wound field switched flux (WFSFs) machines is analyzed. The phenomenon of open-circuit dc-winding-induced voltage is illustrated and the mechanism is explained. Rotor skewing is proposed to reduce the open-circuit dc-winding-induced voltage, and the optimal skewing angle is analytically derived based on the analytically deduced harmonic orders of the open-circuit dc-winding-induced voltage. Finite-element (FE) analyses show that the open-circuit dc-winding-induced voltages in the analyzed 12-stator-pole partitioned stator WFSF machines having 10-, 11-, 13-, and 14-rotor-pole rotors can be effectively reduced by >94%, while the ac-winding phase-fundamental back-EMFs can be maintained by >95%. Twelve/ten-stator/rotor-pole prototypes with skewed and nonskewed rotors are built and tested to verify the analytical and FE results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of performance difference among various kinds of flux reversal permanent magnet (FRPM) machines having different permanent magnet (PM) arrangements. Four PM arrangement types are, first, identified by the number and relative polarities of PMs on the stator teeth, and their influence on the equivalent pole-pair number of the armature winding and working harmonics of the air-gap field is revealed. Then, the torque variation against the rotor pole number of each PM arrangement is analyzed. The electromagnetic performance of four PM arrangements with a 14-pole rotor is compared in detail. It shows that the FRPM machine, in which four PM pieces are mounted on each stator tooth and two adjacent magnets on different stator teeth are of opposite polarities, offers the highest torque density and the highest efficiency, which make it promising in low-speed high-torque applications. In addition, four prototype machines are manufactured and tested to validate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DC winding induced voltage pulsation in the wound field synchronous machines (WFSMs) will cause dc winding current ripple, challenge the dc power supply, and deteriorate the control performance, especially at high speed. In this paper, the influence of dc winding configuration including the dc coil number and the parallel branch number on its induced voltage pulsation is investigated for WFSMs. Based on the modeling of both open-circuit and on-load dc winding induced voltages, the preferred dc winding configurations for WFSMs having various stator/rotor pole number combinations with double layer or single layer ac windings are obtained and validated by finite element (FE) analysis on four typical partitioned stator WFSMs (PS-WFSMs). A PS-WFSM prototype is built and tested to validate both analytical and FE analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel hybrid-excited stator slot opening permanent magnet (PM) machine (HSSPMM). The operation principle of the machine is described and the effects of rotor eccentricity and magnetic saturation due to PMs on electromagnetic performance, with particular emphasis on back electromotive force (EMF), are analyzed by finite element method (FEM). It shows that different from the conventional PM machines, the open-circuit back EMF in this novel HSSPMM should be zero but may become non-zero if significant magnetic saturation exists, and furthermore, the rotor eccentricity has a detrimental effect on the waveforms, amplitudes, and symmetries of three-phase back EMFs, as confirmed by FEM and tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprehensively studies the electromagnetic performance of flux-reversal permanent-magnet (FRPM) machines with different consequent-pole PM (CPM) topologies. Four CPM topologies are first introduced and classified by different numbers of PM pieces and PM locations on stator teeth. Then, the distribution and working harmonics of air-gap flux density of each CPM topology are analyzed and compared, from which the CPM topology with the highest torque density is identified. The influence of critical design parameters on machine performance is also parametrically investigated. By comparing the torque performance of CPM topologies with their surface-mounted PM counterparts, the advantages of CPM topologies, i.e., torque improvement and magnet volume reduction, are clearly revealed. Four FRPM prototypes are manufactured and tested to verify the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent magnet (PM) machine has received much attention recently. However, unbalanced magnetic force (UMF) may occur in PM machines with some slot/pole number combinations even when there is no rotor eccentricity, which can cause high vibration and noise. In order to reduce the rated on-load UMF, three 3-slot/2-pole PM machines with different auxiliary slots are investigated and compared in this paper. In the first two machines, namely, machines 1 and 2, the auxiliary slots are inserted in the middle of the stator teeth, while their sizes are optimized under different working conditions, i.e., no-load and rated on-load conditions. In contrast, both position and size of auxiliary slots are optimized under the rated on-load condition in the third machine viz., machine 3. Compared with the conventional prototype machine, the maximum rated on-load UMFs are reduced by 6.3%, 50.7%, and 96.6%, and the rated output torques are decreased by 0.7%, 11.5%, and 4% in these three machines, respectively. In addition, the other electromagnetic performances, such as flux linkage, back electromagnetic force, cogging torque, rated output torque, and torque ripple, are compared. The influence of working conditions is investigated, and the experiments are also carried out to validate the numerically predicted results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the use of low cost linear Hall sensors for rotor position sensing in brushless ac motors equipped with self-shielding magnets, addresses practical issues, such as the influence of magnetic and mechanical tolerances, temperature variations, and the armature reaction field, and describes the performance which is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series hybrid variable flux memory (VFM) machine employing two kinds of permanent magnets (PMs) on alternate rotor poles is investigated. This VFM machine features controllable PM flux and thus good flux-weakening capability, as well as improved torque density. However, it is found that the unipolar end leakage flux occurs if the two kinds of PMs are not balanced. According to the analyses of series connection between two PMs based on the fundamental magnetic circuit, the mechanism of the unbalanced rotor poles and the unipolar end leakage flux is revealed. Further, the rule of obtaining balanced poles is identified and the effects of operating conditions are presented. A series hybrid VFM machine prototype is fabricated and tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a double superposition method to quickly and accurately predict the cogging torque and unbalanced magnetic force (UMF) of permanent magnet machines with axial-varying rotor eccentricities. The original axial-varying eccentric machine is cut into several uniform slices along the axial direction and each slice is considered to be axially uniform, i.e., axial even. For each axial-even eccentric machine slice, the circumferential superposition method can be used to predict the cogging torque and UMF of this slice. Finally, the cogging torque and UMF of the original axial-varying eccentric machine can be obtained by using an axial superposition technique which combines the cogging torque and UMF of each slice with different eccentricity magnitudes together. The 3-D finite-element analysis is adopted to validate the efficacy of the proposed method and the merit of high accuracy and computational efficiency is also identified by comparing the results predicted from these two methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the electromagnetic performance of 10-MW superconducting (SC) generators with three different topologies, i.e., iron-cored stator and rotor topology (ISIRT), iron-cored stator and air-cored rotor topology (ISART), and air-cored stator and rotor topology (ASART). The objective is to provide a powerful insight into the advantages and disadvantages of different topologies, and to establish some design guidelines for selecting an appropriate direct-drive SC generator for offshore wind turbine applications. First, the structures of the three SC generator topologies are introduced. Then, the influence of the SC coil cross-sectional area on torque capability is compared. After that three SC generators with different topologies are optimized, respectively, for further comparison, including the active material cost, weight, harmonics in the electromotive force, torque ripple, field harmonics in the SC coil, and forces on the rotor and stator components, etc. It is found that, with the same SC quantity, the torque capability of the ISIRT is much better than that of the other two topologies. However, the advantage becomes less significant when a larger area of the SC coil is employed. The air-gap flux density waveform of the ASART is much smoother than those of the ISIRT and ISART. The torque ripples of the ISIRT and the ISART are much higher than that of the ASART. The field harmonics (both amplitude and frequency) in the SC coil of the ASART are the lowest. For the ISIRT, most of the force on the rotor is acting on the rotor iron, and thus, the SC coil is more likely to be safe from a mechanical performance point of view and the design of the corresponding supporting structure is simple. However, for the air-cored rotor topologies, nearly all the force is acting on the SC coil. For the air-cored stator, the force mainly acts on the armature winding, whereas for the iron-cored stator, it is mainly on the stator teeth. Due to the excellent mechanical performance of iron, the iron-cored stator is therefore more robust. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a novel variable flux memory (VFM) machine, in which the “constant” permanent magnet (CPM) with high coercive force and the “variable” PM (VPM) with low coercive force are alternatively located in the interior-PM rotor. Thus, the VPMs and CPMs are magnetically connected in series, with which the CPMs can assist the VPMs to withstand the unintentional demagnetization caused by armature reaction. Therefore, a high armature current can be applied to the machine. Meanwhile, the reluctance torque is retrieved. Thus, a high torque density can be obtained. Based on two-dimensional finite element analysis, first, the electromagnetic performance of the proposed VFM machine in two extreme magnetization states is evaluated in detail. Then, the demagnetization and remagnetization characteristics are investigated, in which the working points of VPMs are illustrated. Furthermore, the advantages of improved efficiency of the proposed VFM machine are demonstrated. A prototype machine is manufactured and tested to validate the predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of pole number and stator outer diameter on the performance of superconducting (SC) generators. The SC generator has an iron-cored rotor topology. First, the generator structure is introduced and the optimization procedure is described. Then, the influence of design parameters on performance, in terms of generator volume, weight, SC wire utilization, active material cost, etc., is presented. Some relationships for the optimal combinations for different performance attributes are established. In addition, the influence of SC material price on the determination of optimal stator outer diameter and pole number is discussed. Finally, the influence of SC coil area per pole on performance is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]