The development of new techniques for control of magnetic objects by external magnetic fields has been in constant improvement. These advancements range from the design and fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles to design and control of actuators that enable their manipulation. The ability to guide such magnetic objects at a distance without any direct mechanical contact is an attractive feature with great potential in medical applications. Magnetic fields are not distorted by their interaction with nonmagnetic materials, like those in the human body; and pose no harm to living tissues, which make them convenient tools for minimally invasive techniques and treatments. Moreover, several actuator configurations have been proposed to achieve the remote motion of a magnetic particle or magnetic fluids. Arrays of electromagnets have been widely utilized due to their lack of mechanical parts and flexibility to accurately and rapidly change their magnetic field by controlling the current through their coils. However, they are relatively weak for their size and electrical power, making them inefficient for medical applications which need large magnetic forces at relatively long distances. On the other hand, permanent magnets have a much higher strength-to-size ratio than electromagnets and allow for control from larger distances. The disadvantage is that their magnetic fields cannot be turned off and a mechanical actuator is needed to modify their position and orientation to change their field. In this work, a magnetic manipulator used as a testbed to manipulate a magnetic bead is designed. It consists of an array of six diametrically magnetized cylindrical permanent magnets evenly spaced around a petri dish, following the work in [11]. Servomotors are utilized to precisely adjust the direction of the magnets according to a control law developed by other researchers in the past. A monochromatic camera located above the petri dish provides the feedback on the position of the bead and a set of hall-effect sensors provides the location of the poles of the magnets. The dynamics of the system is modeled by a linearized set of state-space equations where the magnetic field is estimated with an analytical expression for the geometry of the magnets. The testbed has been designed with the CAD software SolidWorks and its structure has been completely 3D printed with polylactic acid (PLA) filament. The design is tested under different speeds of the servomotors and initial orientations of the magnets. Some recommendations are presented at the end for improvement and considerations for future designs.

Thesis (MScEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) machines have become attractive because of significant improvements in permanent magnets over the past decade, improvements in power electronic devices, and the ever increasing need for more efficient machines in electric vehicle systems. In comparison with the cylindrical radial flux motor, the AFPM machine is better in a number of aspects: short frame; compact construction; high efficiency; brush less construction; good starting torque and high-power density. The common modes of failure and typical operating conditions of AFPM machines are discussed further. The focus of this research project is a prototype AFPM machine developed by the Electrical Engineering Department of The University of Stellenbosch. The machine considered has a power rating of 300 kW and an operating efficiency of 95 % at a speed of 2300 rpm. This specific machine is used as an example to illustrate the thermal characteristics of geometrically similar AFPM machines. The thermal characterization was achieved with the use of two numerical computer models. Firstly a fluid model was specially developed and experimentally verified. The objective of the fluid model was to calculate the mass flow rate of air through any geometrically similar AFPM machine. The fluid model was further used to investigate the effects of different magnet thickness and axial gaps between the stator and the rotor plates on the mass flow rate of air through the machine. The fluid model was verified with experimental testing that was done on a half-scale Perspex model. During the experimental testing the magnet thickness was varied between 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 7.5 mm along with axial gaps of 6.5 mm, 7.5 mm, 8.5 mm, and 9.5 mm. The fluid model showed a correlation to within 10 % of the experimental mass flow rates. The results of these tests showed that the magnet thickness and axial gap between the stator and the rotor plates had no significant effect on the mass flow rate of air. The fluid model was based on one-dimensional, steady-state, and incompressible flow. The second numerical computer model was a thermal model. This model was used to calculate the transient temperature response of the AFPM machine. The model was based on a twodimensional transient finite difference solution technique. Experimental temperatures taken from the prototype AFPM machine were used to verify the thermal model. Correlations between the experimental and theoretical temperatures were within 5.8 % of each other. The thermal model was used to investigate the effect of geometrical changes on the temperatures in the AFPM machine. It was found that these geometrical changes had no significant effect on the temperatures in the AFPM machine. It was also established that increasing the air mass flow rate over about I kg/s had no further effect on lowering the temperatures. The stator was also identified as being the most critical component as it reached its maximum temperature limit before any other component. Heat pipes were considered as an alternative thermal management technique. The location of the heat pipe was limited to the stator. Further simulations were done to investigate the effect of the heat pipe properties on the amount of heat removed from the stator. Recommendations were made concerning the thermal management of the current and possible future prototype AFPM machines. It was recommended that a further more detailed investigation into the use of heat pipes be considered. This recommendation is substantiated by the fact that in this research project only one type of heat pipe was considered and its location was limited to within the stator. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: AFPM masjiene het meer aantreklik geword weens betekenisvolle verbeteringe in permanente magnete gedurende die laaste dekade, verbeteringe in elektroniese toestelle en die vraag na meer effektiewe masjiene in elekriese voertuigstelsels. Die AFPM masjien is beter as die Silindriese Radiale Fluksie Motor wat die volgende aspekte betref: die kort raamwerk; kompakte konstruksie; hoe effektiwiteit; borsellose konstruksie; goeie aanvangsdraaimoment; en hoe-krag digtheid. Die algemene vorms van faling en ook die tipiese werkstoestande van die AFPM word verder bespreek. Hierdie navorsingsprojek fokus op die prototipe AFPM masjien wat ontwikkel is deur die Elektriese Ingenieurs Departement van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die masjien onder bespreking wek 300 kW per uur op en is 95% effektief teen 'n spoed van 2300 rpm. Hierdie masjien word gebruik om die termiese kenmerke van geometries-gelyksoortige masjiene te illustreer. Die termiese eienskappe is bepaal deur die gebruik van twee numeriese rekenaarmodelle. Eerstens is 'n vloeistofmodel spesiaal ontwerp en eksperimenteel geverifieer. Die doel van die vloeistofmodel was om die massa vloeitempo van lug deur enige geometries-gelyksoortige AFPM masjien te bereken. Die vloeistofmodel is verder gebruik om die uitwerking van verskillende magneetdiktes en aksiale gapings tussen die stator en die rotorplate op die massa vloeitempo van lug deur die masjien te ondersoek. Die vloeistofmodel is geverifieer deur eksperimentele toetsing wat gedoen is op 'n halfskaal Perspex model. Tydens die toetsing het magneetdiktes gewissel tussen 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm en 7.5 mm en die aksiale gapings tussen 6.5 mm, 7.5 mm en 9.5 mm. Die vloeistof model het 'n korrelasie van binne 10 % van die eksperimentele massa vloeistempo getoon. Die resultate van hierdie toetse het getoon dat die magneetdiktes en die aksiale gapings tussen die stator en die rotorplate geen noemenswaardige uiterking op die massa vloeitempo van lug gehad het nie. Die vloeistofmodel is gebaseer op een-dimensionele, gestadigde, onsamedrukbare vloei. Die tweede numeriese model was 'n termiese model. Hierdie model is gebruik om die transiente temperatuur respons van die AFPM masjien te bereken. Die model is gebaseer op 'n tweedimensionele, transiente eindige-verskil oplossingstegniek. Eksperimentele temperature gemeet op die prototipe AFPM masjien is gebruik om die termiese model te verifeer. Die eksperimentele en teoretiese temperature het binne 5.8% met mekaar gekorrelleer. Die termiese model is gebruik om die uitwerking van geometriese veranderinge op die temperatuur in die AFPM masjien te ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat hierdie geometriese veranderinge geen noemenswaardige uitwerking op die temperature van die AFPM masjien gehad het nie. Daar is ook vasgestel dat 'n vermeerdering in die lug massa vloeitempo yerby I kg/s geen verdere uitwerking het op die verlaging van die temperatuur gehaad het nie. Die stator is ge-identifiseer as die mees kritiese komponent aangesien dit sy maksimum temperatuur limiet bereik het voor enige ander komponent, Hittepype is oorweeg as 'n alternatiewe termiese bestuurstegniek. Die plasing van die pype is tot die stator beperk. Verdere simulasies is uitgevoer om die uitwerking van die hittepyp eienskappe op die hoeveelheid hitte wat verwyder word van die stator te ondersoek. Aanbevelings is gemaak m.b.t die termiese bestuur van die huidige en moontlike toekomstige prototipes van AFPM masjiene. Daar is aanbeveel dat daar in meer besonderhede ondersoek ingestel word na die gebruik van hittepype. Die rede hiervoor is dat daar in hierdie studie net gebruik gemaak is van een tipe hittepyp en dat die plasing daarvan beperk is tot binne die stator.

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Magnetic bearings are increasingly being used in a wide variety of applications in the industry such as compressors, turbines, motors, generators etc. Also, there are different types available depending upon their construction. The research presented here investigates a high temperature permanent magnet biased magnetic bearing system which is jointly being researched by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Electron Energy Corporation (EEC). The purpose of this research was to develop a permanent magnet biased magnetic bearing system using high temperature (HT) permanent magnets (PM) developed by EEC. This system was designed for high performance, high temperature (1000F) and high speed applications. The entire system consisted of two radial bearings, two catcher bearings, one axial thrust bearing and a motor. The central rotor shaft is powered by a high temperature permanent magnet motor to be able to run at the designed conditions of 20,000 rpm. This thesis documents the design of a feedback control law that stabilizes this HTPM biased AMB levitated system and summarizes efforts to build a test rig for the HT tests of the machine. A decentralized PD control law is used to achieve successful levitation. An existing PD analog controller with single input single output (SISO) control law for each axis (previously used for a flywheel test rig) is used as a feedback controller for this HTPM magnetic bearing system. Modeling and simulation of the resulting closed loop system is done in Matlab to test for stability and an iterative approach leads to optimum values of proportional and derivative gain pairs. The notch filter locations are also determined through this closed loop iterative simulation.

The design, analysis, and control of Disc-type Linear Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines are presented in this dissertation. The machine is designed in order to have the features of high power density, high efficiency, direct drive without extra transmission device, simple mechanical structure, and wide operating speed range for the electric vehicle applications. The Feasible Triangle Technique for permanent magnet synchronous machine design is employed to increase torque density and reduce torque ripple. Magnetic theory and the finite element method are involved to establish machine mathematical model to simulate and analyze the proposed machine. The coupling field between rotor and stator can be analyzed from flux distribution by using three-dimensional finite element method. The numerical simulation and experimental results are used to verify the machine model and the operational characteristics of machine. The dissertation provides the procedures for design, analysis, and control of the proposed machine.

The objective of this thesis is to provide the modeling procedure for a tubular permanent magnet generator with Halbach array. The cylindrical-coordinated magnetic flux distributions generated by the stator winding currents and permanent magnets can be realized by deriving the magnetic vector potential in Bessel form from the Maxwell's equations. Then, the functional expressions of inductance matrix and magnetic flux linkage can be obtained. The detailed mathematic model of the proposed system combined with the actual operational properties can be further established and implemented by using the Matlab/Simulink software. The applicability of such mathematic model is also confirmed with experimental results.

Thesis (M.S.) in Electrical Engineering--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 49).

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 240-266). Also available in print.