Study of Performance Characteristics of a Surface Permanent Magnet Motor at Various Magnetization Patterns

Abstract

Purpose In the present paper the influence of the magnetization patterns of rotor magnets on the performance characteristics of a surface permanent magnet (SPM) motor has been investigated. The purpose of this paper is to show how the electromagnetic and electromechanical characteristics of this type of motor can be significantly changed by applying various magnetization patterns of permanent magnets (PM) on the rotor surface.

Design/methodology/approach First, a survey of possible and most frequently used magnetization patterns for PM motors is presented. The research is focused on the comparison of performance characteristics and is developed at three levels. The study starts with investigation of a conventional SPM motor having segmented PM, and two magnetization patterns are considered: parallel and radial. As there was no significant difference in motor performance at parallel and radial magnetization, for further investigation only radial magnetization, being more conventional, was considered. In the second step, the counterparts of SPM with two Halbach array configurations, under the constraint of fixed magnet volume, are studied. Finally, detailed comparative analyses of SPM at radial, Halbach 1, and Halbach 2 magnetic patterns are presented. The advantages and drawbacks of the suggested magnetic configurations are then discussed.

Findings The authors have shown how the magnetization pattern of rotor PM can have a substantial impact on the SPM motor performance characteristics. From the analysis of magnetic field properties at various types of magnetization, it is observed that both the shape and the rates of the characteristics, for radial magnetization and Halbach 2 configuration, exhibit similar features. This is because the Halbach 2 array cancels the magnetic flux above the PM – that is, it strengthens the magnetic field in the rotor, and enhances the coupling between the rotor and stator magnetic field. It is worth emphasizing that, because of less saturation of the magnetic core and lower iron loss at Halbach 1 and Halbach 2 magnetization, it is possible to increase the armature current and consequently increase the electromagnetic torque. This finding could be an interesting for further research.

Originality/value The paper presents an original comparative analysis of the performance characteristics of a surface permanent motor at various magnetization patterns. The novelty of the paper is seen in the introduction of two Halbach magnetization arrays for PM and improvement of the performance characteristics of the analysed motor.