Analytical solution of magnetic field in permanent-magnet eddy-current couplings by considering the effects of slots and iron-core protrusions

Abstract

In this study, we propose an analytical model for studying magnetic fields in radial-flux permanent-magnet eddy-current couplings by considering the effects of slots and iron-core protrusions on the eddy currents. We focus on the analytical prediction of the air-gap field by considering the influence of eddy currents induced in conducting bars. In the proposed model, the permanent magnet region is treated as the source of a timevarying magnetic field and the moving-conductor eddy current problem is solved based on the resolution of time-harmonic Helmholtz equations. The spatial harmonics in the air gap and in slots, as well as the time harmonics are all considered in the analytical calculation. Based on the proposed field model, the electromagnetic torque is computed by using the Maxwell stress tensor method. Nonlinear finite element analysis is performed to validate the analytical model. The proposed model can be used for permanent-magnet eddy-current couplings with any slot–pole combination.