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For low-speed electrical machine applications, it is usually weight/size and cost effective to employ a high-speed machine together with a mechanical gearbox. However, the disadvantages associated with magnetic gearboxes can be overcome by mechanically and magnetically integrating a magnetic gear and a permanent magnet brushless machine, to create a 'pseudo' direct-drive machine. It is shown that a torque density in excess of 60 kNm/[m.sup.3] can then be achieved, at a power factor in excess of 0.9. Index Terms--Electric machines, magnetic gears, permanent magnet.

This paper describes a tubular, three-phase, flux-switching permanent magnet (PM) brushless machine that combines salient features from switched reluctance (SR) and conventional PM brushless machines. Feasible slot-pole number combinations, which are also applicable to rotary flux-switching machines, are derived. This paper also examines an alternative stator winding configuration, which is unique to the tubular machine topology. It is shown that this yields ~10%-15% higher thrust force capability as compared to a flux-switching machine equipped with a conventional winding. Index Terms--Linear motors, permanent magnet (PM) machines.

This paper describes the merits of a recently developed form of a three-phase permanent-magnet (PM) brushless ac machine in which the concentrated coils of each stator phase are wound either on adjacent teeth or on alternate teeth. Such a machine is often referred to as modular and offers a number of significant advantages over conventional PM brushless machines. For example, it results in a smaller number of slots for a given number of poles, which is a distinct manufacturing advantage, and yields a fractional number of slots per pole, which is conducive to low cogging torque. It also enables a significant increase in the achievable machine inductance to facilitate constant power operation over a wide speed range by flux weakening. However, the torque in modular machines is developed by the interaction of a high-order stator space harmonic MMF with the PMs, since the fundamental stator MMF has fewer poles than the PM rotor. Hence, significant eddy currents may be induced in the rotor by the fundamental and low-order space harmonic MMFs. The eddy-current loss can, however, be reduced by segmenting the magnets. Given that modular machines combine the high specific power and efficiency of conventional PM brushless machines with a high machine inductance, to enable a wide speed range, constant power operation, their potential for low manufacturing cost, and the fact that they have inherently low cogging torque, they are eminently suitable for in-wheel traction applications. Index Terms--Electric and hybrid vehicles, electric traction drives, permanent-magnet (PM) machine.

This paper presents a computationally efficient technique in determining the influence of the finite axial length of the permanent magnets on the rotor eddy-current loss in modular brushless ac machines. The technique is employed to quantify the effectiveness of axially segmenting the permanent magnets of four-phase, eight-slot, ten-pole and five-phase, ten-slot, 12-pole brushless machines, which have been designed to meet the performance requirements of an electromechanical flight control surface actuator for a 'more-electric' aircraft. Index Terms--Eddy currents, permanent-magnet machines.

This paper discusses the suitability of four-phase, five-phase, and six-phase modular machines, for use in applications where servo characteristics and fault tolerance are key requirements. It is shown that an optimum slot number and pole number combination exists, for which excellent servo characteristics could be achieved, under healthy operating conditions, with minimum effects on the power density of the machine. To eliminate torque ripple due to residual cogging and various fault conditions, the paper describes a novel optimal torque control strategy for the modular permanent-magnet machines operating in both constant torque and constant power modes. The proposed control strategy enables ripple-free torque operation to be achieved, while minimizing the copper loss under voltage and current constraints. The utility of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by computer simulations on a four-phase fault-tolerant drive system. Index Terms--Fault tolerant, modular machines, optimal control, permanent-magnet machines, servo drives.

This article presents an investigation into the application of a magnetically geared pseudo-direct-drive (PDD) electrical machine in a floating tethered 6 kW, 100 r/min marine current turbine. The turbine is designed to harness the energy from ocean currents, in regions with relatively high-speed water flows at depths that are a long distance from the seabed and cannot be economically exploited by conventional fixed turbines. The marine current turbine is a robust, easy to service, and cost-effective solution for regions with variable or fixed sea depth of more than 60 m. This article presents the electromagnetic design and analysis of the PDD generator, and predicted performance such as efficiency, which is compared with dynamometer measurements on a prototype PDD generator. Furthermore, test results on a demonstrator marine turbine in a towing tank are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes an improved two-dimensional (2-D) analytical model for predicting the winding inductances and the armature reaction field of slotless permanent magnet brushless machines. Results from the model are compared to those deduced from finite element analyses, existing one-dimensional (lD) and 2-D analytical models and measurements. It is shown that the radial thickness of the airgap winding can have a significant effect on both the winding inductances and the armature reaction field. Index Terms - Electromagnetic fields, inductance, permanent magnet machines.

This paper presents an analysis of the rotor eddy-current loss in modular and conventional topologies of permanent magnet brushless machine. The loss is evaluated both analytically and by time-stepped finite-element analysis, and it is shown that it can be significant in both machine topologies. It is also shown that the loss can be reduced significantly by segmenting the magnets. Index Terms--Eddy-current, modular machines, permanent magnet machines, rotor loss.

This paper describes a novel optimal torque control strategy for fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless ac drives operating in both constant torque and constant power modes. The proposed control strategy enables ripple-free torque operation to be achieved while minimizing the copper loss under voltage and current constraints. The utility of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by computer simulations on a five-phase fault-tolerant drive system. Index Terms--Fault tolerant, optimal control, permanent magnet machines.

A faulted phase in fault-tolerant permanent-magnet brushless machine can result in significant torque ripple. However, this can be minimized by using an appropriate optimal torque control strategy. Inevitably, however, this results in significant time harmonics in the phase current waveforms, which when combined with inherently large space harmonics, can result in a significant eddy-current loss in the permanent magnets on the rotor. This paper describes the optimal torque control strategy which has been adopted, and discusses its effect on the eddy-current loss in the permanent magnets of four-, five-, and six-phase fault-tolerant machines. Index Terms--Brushless machines, eddy currents, losses.

An analytical technique is presented for determining the design variants of modular permanent magnet machine, and performance parameters of selected 1 coil per phase modular fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless machines are discussed. A large number of design variant exits are shown.

The eddy-current loss in the permanent magnets of brushless ac machines is usually neglected, since the fundamental air-gap field usually rotates in synchronism with the rotor, and time harmonics in the current waveform and space harmonics in the winding distribution are generally small. However, an important category of brushless ac machine design is emerging in which the fundamental component of the stator MMF has fewer poles than the rotor, the torque being developed by a higher order MMF harmonic. The fundamental and lower order MMF harmonics can then give rise to significant rotor eddy currents. An analytical model is developed to predict rotor-induced eddy currents in such machines, and to quantify the effectiveness of circumferentially segmenting the permanent magnets in reducing the rotor loss. Index Terms--Brushless machines, eddy currents, losses.