Design Optimization of a Low Speed Small Scale Modular Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator for Urban Wind Turbine Application

Abstract

Small wind turbines can generate clean energy in diverse locations, from urban centers to rural areas without access to the main grids. This study proposes design optimization of an axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) synchronous machine for small scale portable applications. At first, a fast, accurate and pragmatic hybrid analytical model is proposed for performance prediction of the machine. The proposed model is then used as a basis for a direct search optimization process with factual constrains and objective functions to improve the machine in terms of efficiency, weight and to ease the manufacturing process. 3 Dimensional Time Stepping Finite Element Method (3-DTSFEM) is utilized to validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed model and optimization methodology.Output characteristic of the machine from both analytical model and 3-DTSFEM are compared to each other that proves the functionality of the proposed study.

A systematic review on current research and developments on coreless axial‐flux permanent‐magnet machines

“…The impact of magnet shape and circumferentially magnetised magnets buried inside the rotor surface on the coreless SSDR topology has been investigated [14,46]. For coreless SSDR AFPM machines in small scale portable applications, a discussion was made about design [16,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56], optimisation [28,50,57] and modelling [58,59]. In Ref.…”

“…In Refs. [15,44,46,48,105], researchers applied non-overlapping windings in coreless stators, claiming high performance due to optimised winding for the coreless machine. However, in Ref.…”

“…In Ref. [48], design optimisation of coreless SSDR AFPM machine with a rectangular magnet with the conventional arrangement was developed for small scale portable applications, delivering better efficiency. In Ref.…”

“…Wind turbine [69] Reported that a double-sided rotor with an inner coreless stator having non-overlapping concentrated winding generator Small scale wind turbines [127] Comparative analysis between a dual-rotor ironless-stator with drum winding and a dual rotor slot-less iron core stator TORUS generator Direct-drive wind energy conversion [48] Compared a 90°Halbach coreless AFPM synchronous generator with a conventional AFPM generator and found better performance of the former Wind power generation [18] Coreless AFPM machines offering high value of torque density and absence of cogging that provides an easier turbine start-up Direct-drive wind turbines (DDWTs) [104] Mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) to incorporate both pitch angle and number of active stator modules as control input signals Wind turbine application [58] An axial, coreless permanent magnet generator was designed for low head and high flow application Small hydroelectric power plant [4] A fully coreless multi-stage AFPM generator was designed for better power density Pico-hydro application [128] A preliminary design of a PMAFM with coreless stator for the power management of a smallscale flywheel energy storage system (FESS) Flywheel energy storage system aspects of a coreless axial-flux permanent-magnet generator were proposed for low-cost wind power applications that were particularly suitable for rural electrification. In Ref.…”

A New Hybrid Analytical Model Based on Winding Function Theory for Analysis of Unbalanced Two-Phase Induction Motors

“…For this reason, the electromagnetic modeling and analysis is necessary for careful and thorough examination of UTPIMs with different run capacitors. Various techniques can be used for modeling and analysis of UTPIMs such as finite element method (FEM) [1][2], winding function theory (WFT) [3][4], magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) [5][6], sub-domain (S-D) model [7][8], conformal mapping (CM) method [9][10][11], and field reconstruction method (FRM) [12][13]. FEM is an accurate technique.…”