Reduction of Torque Ripple and Axial Force in a Fully Pitched Axial Flux Switched Reluctance Motor Using a Double Stator Structure

Abstract

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are highly advantageous electric motors for various industrial applications, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), due to their winding-free rotor, magnet-free design, simplicity, and ease of manufacturing. The growing interest in axial flux SRMs (AFSRMs) is particularly noticeable, as axial flux electric motors with a flat shape and high aspect ratio have become commonly used in various industrial applications, including in-wheel motors for EVs. Structurally, AFSRMs significantly differ from radial flux SRMs (RFSRMs), but share the same electromagnetic operating principles. When compared to RFSRMs, AFSRMs generate higher torque per unit volume due to their more effective utilization of their air gap. In this study, the axial force on the rotor and torque ripple of a 6/4 pole fully pitched axial flux SRM (FP-AFSRM) were minimized by combining the advantages of “single-stator and single-rotor AFSRM” and “double-stator and single-rotor AFSRM” models. The proposed FP-AFSRM model, which has a “double-stator and single-rotor AFSRM” design and has the operating logic of a “single-stator and single-rotor AFSRM”, was analyzed using 3D finite element analysis. The results show that the torque ripple decreased (Δ % Trip) between (−30.42) and (−41.14), and the axial force on the rotor decreased between 17.61% and 25.4%.