Flux switching machines using segmental rotors

Abstract

Flux switching machines (FSM) employing a segmental rotor have field and armature systems on the stator and a presentation of an unexcited rotor with isolated segments. The single-tooth winding arrangement on the stator provides a potential for material and energy savings. The principle for producing bipolar flux in the armature stator teeth relies on the natural switching of the armature tooth flux, accomplished by the moving segments of the rotor. Three phase configurations have been studied, from conception and design to construction and testing, with field excitation provided by either a field winding or permanent magnets (PM). Flux switching machines have shown characteristics that are peculiar when employing a segmental rotor, significantly affecting the symmetry of the induced armature EMF waveform and parity of magnitudes of the positive and negative torques. For three phase operation, six topologies are feasible when employing a 12-tooth stator and two other topologies may be produced on a 24-tooth stator. An optimum topology on the 12/8-configuration and another proof-of-principle topology on the 12/5-configuration, using field-windings and permanent-magnets, have been designed and constructed, while applying modern practices and considerations for manufacture. The characteristics of FSMs employing a segmental rotor, initially predicted by finiteelement (FE) modelling, have been verified by measurements. The FSM employing a field-winding is found to have a specific torque output which is similar to the conventional switched reluctance motor and still substantially higher than that of the synchronous reluctance motor. Although the PM adaptation of the FSM produces specific torque output which is nearly twice that of the wound-field FSM and about 64% that of an equivalent permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with surface or insert magnets, accounting for the usage of the magnets reflects its specific torque output to be about 1.48 times higher than the PMSM. Although the FSM is operated as an AC machine with sinusoidal three-phase currents, its dq-equivalent representation shows significant differences from that of the conventional AC machine. In the prediction of the performance, it is found, in both the wound-field and PM configurations, that the dq model is more dependable if the coupling dq inductance is taken into account.