Thesis (PhDEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of new high energy product permanent magnet materials has opened great opportunities
for novel electrical machine topologies with advantageous features such as high efficiency
and high power/weight ratio. Amongst others, axial field permanent magnet (AFPM)
machines with ironless stators are increasingly being used in power generation applications.
Because of the absence of the core losses, a generator with this type of design can operate at a
substantially high efficiency. Besides, the high compactness and disc-shaped profile make this
type of machine particularly suitable for compact integrated power generation systems. Due
to construction problems, the generator application of this type of machine has been limited
to quite a low power range. There is a need to investigate the performance capability of this
type of AFPM machine in the upper medium power level.
The focus of this thesis is on the design optimisation of the air-cooled AFPM generator with
an ironless stator. A design approach that directly incorporates the finite element field solution
in a multi-dimensional optimisation procedure is developed and applied to the design
optimisation of a 300 kW (at unity power factor) AFPM generator. To enable an overall
design optimisation of the machine, different design aspects, such as the cooling capacity, the
mechanical strength and eddy loss, are also studied in this research.
To enable the free movement of the rotor mesh with respect to the stator mesh, the air-gap
element originally proposed by Razek et. al. is derived for Cartesian coordinate systems. For
minimising the large computation overhead associated with this macro element, a number of
existing time-saving schemes have been utilised together with the derived Cartesian air-gap
element. The developed finite element time-step model is applied to calculating the steadystate
performance of the AFPM machine.
Since the flux distribution in an AFPM machine is three dimensional by nature, calculating
the eddy current loss by merely using a simple analytical method may be subject to a significant
error. To overcome this problem, the two dimensional finite element field modelling
is introduced to perform accurate field analysis. To exploit the full advantages of the twodimensional
finite element modelling, a multi-layer approach is proposed, which takes into account the variation of the air-gap flux density in the conductors with regard to their relative
positions in the air-gap. To account for the radial variation of the field, a multi-slice finite
element modelling scheme is devised.
The thermal analysis is an important aspect of the design optimisation of AFPM machines.
From a design point of view, it is preferable to have a simple but effective method for cooling
analysis and design, which can easily be adapted to a wide range of AFPM machines. In
this thesis a thermofluid model of the AFPM machine is developed. The fluid flow model is
needed for calculating the air flow rate, which is then used to find the convective heat transfer
coefficients. These are important parameters in the subsequent thermal calculations.
Experimental investigations have been carried out to verify each of the above-mentioned
models/methods. With these models implemented, the design optimisation of an air-cooled
ironless stator 300 kW (at unity power factor) AFPM generator is carried out. The performance
measurements done on the fabricated prototype are compared in this thesis with
predicted results. The study shows that the proposed design approach can be applied with
success to optimise the design of the AFPM machine. The advantages of high power density,
high efficiency, no cogging torque and good voltage regulation make this type of AFPM machine
very suitable for power generator applications. The optimum steady-state performance
of the AFPM machine shows that this machine with an ironless stator is an excellent candidate
for high speed power generator applications, even in the upper medium power level.
The good cooling capacity of this type of machine holds the promise of its being a self-cooled
generator at high power ratings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uitvinding van nuwe hoë energiedigtheid permanent magneet materiale het groot geleenthede
vir nuwe elektriese masjien topologië laat ontstaan met voordelige eienskappe soos hoë
benuttingsgraad en hoë drywing/gewig verhouding. Onder andere word die aksiaalveld permanente
magneet (AVPM) masjiene met kernlose stators toenemend gebruik vir elektriese
generator toepassings. As gevolg van die afwesigheid van kernverliese kan 'n generator met
hierdie tipe ontwerp teen 'n aansienlik hoë benuttingsgraad werk. Daarbenewens maak die
hoë kompaktheid en skyfvorm-profiel die masjien in besonder geskik vir die ontwikkeling van
kompak geïntegreerde drywing generator stelsels. As gevolg van konstruksie probleme is die
toepassing van hierdie tipe masjien as generator beperk tot redelik lae drywingsgebiede. Dit
is nodig om die werkverrigtingsvermoë van hierdie tipe AVPM masjien in die boonste medium
drywingsgebied te ondersoek.
Die fokus van hierdie tesis is op die ontwerp-optimering van 'n lugverkoelde AVPM generator
met 'n kernlose stator. 'n Ontwerpsbenadering wat die eindige element veldoplossing
in 'n multi-dimensionele optimeringsprosedure insluit, is ontwikkel en toegepas op die ontwerpsoptimering
van 'n 300 kW (by eenheidsarbeidsfaktor) AVPM generator. Om 'n globale
ontwerpsoptimering van die masjien te kan doen is verskillende ontwerpsaspekte soos die
verkoelingskapasiteit, meganiese sterkte en werwelverliese ook in hierdie navorsing bestudeer.
Om die vrye beweging van die rotormaas ten opsigte van die statormaas te verseker is die
lugspleet-element, soos oorspronklik deur Razek et al voorgestel, afgelei vir Cartesiaanse
koórdinaat stelsels. Om die lang berekeningstyd geassosieer met hierdie makro-element te
minimaliseer is 'n aantal bestaande tydbesparende metodes saam met die ontwikkelde Cartesiaanse
lugspleet-element gebruik. Die ontwikkelde eindige element tydstapmodel is toegepas
om die bestendige werkverrigting van die AVPM masjien te bereken.
Aangesien die vloedverspreiding in 'n AVPM masjien van nature drie-dimensioneel is, kan
die berekening van die werwelstroomverliese tot aansienlike foute lei as eenvoudige analitiese
metodes gebruik word. Om hierdie probleem te oorkom is twee-dimensionele eindige element
modellering gebruik om akkurate veld-analise te doen. Om die volle voordele van die twee- dimensionele eindige element modellering te eksploiteer is 'n multi-laag benadering voorgestel
wat die variasie van die lugspleetvloeddigtheid in die geleiers met betrekking tot hulle relatiewe
lugspleetposisies in ag neem. Om voorsiening te maak vir die radiale variasie van die
veld, is 'n multi-skyf eindige element modelleringstegniek ontwikkel.
Die termiese analise is 'n belangrike aspek van die ontwerpsoptimering van AVPM masjiene.
Vanuit 'n ontwerpsoogpunt is dit verkieslik om 'n eenvoudige maar tog effektiewe metode van
verkoelingsanalise en -ontwerp te hê wat maklik toegepas kan word op 'n wye reeks van AVPM
masjiene. In hierdie tesis word 'n termovloeimodel van die AVPM masjien ontwikkel. Hierdie
vloeimodel is nodig vir die berekening van die lugvloeitempo, wat op sy beurt weer nodig is
om die konveksie hitte-oordrag koëffisiënte te bepaal. Hierdie is belangrike parameters in die
opvolgende termiese berekeninge.
Eksperimentele ondersoek is uitgevoer om elkeen van die bogenoemde modelle en metodes
te verifieer. Nadat hierdie modelle geïmplimenteer is, is die ontwerpsoptimering van 'n 300
kW (by eenheidsarbeidsfaktor) lugverkoelde kernlose stator AVPM generator uitgevoer. Die
werkverrigtingmetings gedoen op 'n vervaardigde prototipe masjien, word in hierdie tesis
vergelyk met voorspelde resultate. Daar word getoon dat die voorgestelde ontwerpsbenadering
met sukses toegepas kan word om die ontwerp van die AVPM masjien te optimeer. Die
voordele van hoë drywingsdigtheid, hoë benuttingsgraad, geen vertandingsdraaimomente en
goeie spanningsregulasie maak hierdie masjien baie aantreklik vir generator toepassings. Die
optimum bestendige werkverrigting van die AVPM masjien toon dat hierdie masjien met 'n
kernlose stator 'n goeie kandidaat is vir hoë spoed generator toepassings, selfs in die boonste
medium drywingsgebied. Die goeie verkoelingskapasiteit van hierdie tipe masjien hou die
belofte in van'n selfverkoelde generator by hoë drywing aanslae.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53351 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Wang, Rong-Jie |
| Contributors | Kamper, M. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering . Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 195 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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