Low-Voltage, High-Frequency Synchronous Motor for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

This article details the design of a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor prototype dedicated to the direct drive of the propeller for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and CTOL (Conventional Take-off and Landing) aircrafts. Our main aim is to maximise the power-to-weight ratio whilst not compromising the efficiency and the reliability. The originality of the research is based on the implementation of an armature winding using solid copper bars; we show that it is possible to use such an approach in an electric machine operating at very high frequency (1800 Hz) through a precise study on the shape of the bars to counter the additional losses. A prototype has been successfully manufactured; manufacturing details and some of the experimental test results are presented here.

A Review of Additive Manufacturing of Soft Magnetic Materials in Electrical Machines

“…Currently, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has the potential to innovate the design and manufacturing of Electric Machines (EMs). Thanks to AM, new optimised geometries can be designed and manufactured with the purpose of improving the machine's thermal, electromagnetic, and mechanical performance [1][2][3]. In addition, it is possible to reduce the waste of raw material compared to traditional manufacturing techniques.…”