Permanent magnet machines for modulated damping of seismic vibrations: electrical and thermal modeling

Some electromagnetic and thermal aspects concerning special permanent magnet machines, employed in damping seismic oscillations in structural systems, are examined. The power generated by the machine during a seismic event is regulated by a suited converter and delivered to an external resistor. Some modeling features and selected simulations are examined, together with test results obtained by a prototype. Some special tests, aimed to identify the thermal parameters of the machines, are presented and discussed. Index Terms--Axial flux permanent magnet (PM) machines, concentrated winding electrical machines, electrical and thermal modeling, seismic vibration damping.