Zhongze Wu

Bio: Zhongze Wu is an academic researcher from University of Bath. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stator & Torque. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 75 publications receiving 1100 citations. Previous affiliations of Zhongze Wu include University of Sheffield & Southeast University.

Analysis of Air-Gap Field Modulation and Magnetic Gearing Effects in Switched Flux Permanent Magnet Machines

Abstract: In this paper, switched flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machines are analyzed from the perspective of the air-gap field harmonics. It is found that the modulation of the salient rotor to PM and armature reaction fields in SFPM machines is similar to that of the iron pieces to those fields in the magnetic gear and magnetically geared machine. The magnetic gearing effect is analyzed in SFPM machines with different stator/rotor pole combinations, winding configurations, and stator lamination segment types by a simple magnetomotive force-permeance model, and validated by finite-element (FE) analysis. Different from fractional-slot surface-mounted PM machines in which the working air-gap field harmonic generates 95% of the average electromagnetic torque, 95% of the average electromagnetic torque in SFPM machines having ps stator pole pairs and n r rotor poles are contributed by several dominating field harmonics, i.e., rotating ones with |kn r ± (2i - 1)p s | pole pair (k = 1, i = 1, 2, 3) and static ones with (2i - 1)ps pole pair (i = 1, 2, 3). The FE predicted average static torques in SFPM machines are validated by measurements on prototype machines.

Partitioned Stator Flux Reversal Machine With Consequent-Pole PM Stator

Abstract: In this paper, partitioned stator flux reversal permanent magnet (PS-FRPM) machines having different stator/rotor pole combinations with consequent-pole PM (CPM) stator are proposed and analyzed. Compared with the conventional 12-stator-pole PS-FRPM machines having 10-, 11-, 13-, and 14-rotor-pole rotors and surface-mounted PM (SPM) stator, the PM volume in the proposed PS-FRPM machines with CPM stator can be saved by 28.33%, 30%, 30%, and 33.33%, respectively, while the torque density are similar, i.e., 98.59%, 96.69%, 95.50%, and 97.15%, respectively. Besides, the proposed PS-FRPM machines with CPM stator can exhibit only <1% smaller efficiency compared with the existing PS-FRPM machines with SPM inner stator.

Novel Electrical Machines Having Separate PM Excitation Stator

Abstract: In this paper, novel electrical machines having a separate permanent magnet (PM) excitation stator are proposed based on a partitioned stator (PS) flux reversal (FR) PM (FRPM) machine. Different from the conventional FRPM machines with a single stator, the PS-FRPM machines have two stators with PMs surface mounted in one stator and the armature windings located in another stator. This paper investigates the electromagnetic performance of PS-FRPM machines with 12/10, 12/11, 12/13, and 12/14 stator/rotor-pole, together with the influence of leading design parameters. The torque characteristics of PS-FRPM machines are quantitatively compared with the conventional FRPM machines based on their globally optimized designs. It shows that the PS-FRPM machines can generally produce higher torque when the PMs are thicker and exhibit >56% higher torque density than that of the conventional FRPM machines. Even compared under the same PM volume, the proposed PS-FRPM machines can have larger torque due to better utilization of the inner space. The investigation is validated by both finite-element and experimental results.

A Wound Field Switched Flux Machine With Field and Armature Windings Separately Wound in Double Stators

Abstract: In this paper, a double stator (DS) wound field (WF) switched flux (SF) (DS-WFSF) machine is proposed. In the DS-WFSF machine, field and armature windings are separately placed in two different stators. Compared with the conventional WFSF machine with single stator, in which both field and armature windings are located, nonoverlapping concentrated windings and large slot areas can be obtained in the DS-WFSF machine. The proposed DS-WFSF machine exhibits >19% higher torque than the conventional WFSF machine, with both machines having the same space envelope and being globally optimized. The influence of leading design parameters, such as copper loss ratio between the field and armature windings, air-gap diameter, and rotor iron piece thickness and widths, on the average output torque is investigated for the DS-WFSF machines having 12/10, 12/11, 12/13, and 12/14 stator slots/rotor iron pieces. All the analyses are confirmed by both finite element and experimental results.

Analytical Approach for Cogging Torque Reduction in Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Machines Based on Magnetomotive Force-Permeance Model

Abstract: Flux-switching permanent magnet machine typically suffers from relatively high cogging torque due to its special doubly salient structure and high air-gap flux density, causing undesired torque ripples, as well as acoustic noise and vibration, especially at low speeds. In this paper, an analytical expression of cogging torque is derived based on a magnetomotive force-permeance model, through which the optimal design parameters and dimensions, such as combinations of stator slots and rotor poles, skewing angle, stator tooth width, rotor tooth width, and magnet thickness, can be determined. Based on the derived analytical model, two novel approaches for cogging torque reduction are proposed, i.e., asymmetric magnetomotive force and asymmetric permeance, respectively, and consequently, the optimal designs are also acquired analytically. However, it is also found that the optimal choice of the proposed techniques depends on the combinations of stator slots and rotor poles of the machines. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approaches is verified by both finite element analytical predictions and experimental results.

General Airgap Field Modulation Theory for Electrical Machines

Abstract: This paper proposes a general field modulation theory for electrical machines by introducing magnetomotive force modulation operator to characterize the influence of short-circuited coil, variable reluctance, and flux guide on the primitive magnetizing magnetomotive force distribution established by field winding function multiplied by field current along the airgap peripheral. Magnetically anisotropic stator and rotor behave like modulators to produce a spectrum of field harmonics and the armature winding plays the role of a spatial filter to extract effective field harmonics to contribute the corresponding flux linkage and induce the electromotive force. The developed field modulation theory not only unifies the principle analysis of a large variety of electrical machines, including conventional dc machine, induction machine, and synchronous machine which are just special cases of the general field modulated machines, thus eliminating the problem of the machine theory fragmentation, but also provides a powerful guidance for inventing new machine topologies.

Analysis of Air-Gap Field Modulation and Magnetic Gearing Effects in Switched Flux Permanent Magnet Machines

Abstract: In this paper, switched flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machines are analyzed from the perspective of the air-gap field harmonics. It is found that the modulation of the salient rotor to PM and armature reaction fields in SFPM machines is similar to that of the iron pieces to those fields in the magnetic gear and magnetically geared machine. The magnetic gearing effect is analyzed in SFPM machines with different stator/rotor pole combinations, winding configurations, and stator lamination segment types by a simple magnetomotive force-permeance model, and validated by finite-element (FE) analysis. Different from fractional-slot surface-mounted PM machines in which the working air-gap field harmonic generates 95% of the average electromagnetic torque, 95% of the average electromagnetic torque in SFPM machines having ps stator pole pairs and n r rotor poles are contributed by several dominating field harmonics, i.e., rotating ones with |kn r ± (2i - 1)p s | pole pair (k = 1, i = 1, 2, 3) and static ones with (2i - 1)ps pole pair (i = 1, 2, 3). The FE predicted average static torques in SFPM machines are validated by measurements on prototype machines.

Design and Analysis of a Linear Permanent- Magnet Vernier Machine With Improved Force Density

Abstract: This paper proposes a novel linear permanent-magnet (PM) vernier machine, which offers high force density, high efficiency, simple structure, and low cost. The novelty of the proposed machine is substantiated by integrating appropriate magnetization directions of PMs in the armature core. First, the structure and the operation principle of the proposed machine are descried. The machine is subsequently designed for a given set of specifications and its electromagnetic performances are analyzed by time-stepped transient finite-element method. An analytical equation is derived for evaluation of the thrust force ripple. Finally, experiments on a prototype of the proposed machine are carried out for validation.

Analysis of Air-Gap Field Modulation and Magnetic Gearing Effect in Fractional-Slot Concentrated-Winding Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machines

Abstract: In this paper, the torque production of fractional-slot concentrated-winding (FSCW) permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) is analyzed from the perspective of the air-gap field harmonics modulation accounting for slotting effect. It is found that the average torque of FSCW PMSM is produced by both the principle of conventional PMSM and the magnetic gearing effect. A finite-element analysis (FEA) based equivalent current sheet model and harmonic restoration method is first used in FSCW PM machines with different slot–pole number combinations to quantify the respective contribution of the conventional PMSM and the magnetic gearing effect to the average torque. The influence of slot opening on the magnetic gearing effect, cogging torque, and torque ripple is analyzed. The results show that the magnetic gearing effect makes a nonignorable contribution to the average torque when a large slot opening stator is used. The expression of the gear ratio in FSCW PMSMs is derived. The influence of gear ratio on the contribution of the magnetic gearing effect to the total torque is investigated by FEA. The FEA-predicted torques are validated by experiments on the prototypes.

Analysis and Design Optimization of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for a Campus Patrol Electric Vehicle

Abstract: This work presents the analysis, design and optimization of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) for an electric vehicle (EV) used for campus patrol with a specific drive cycle. Firstly, based on the collected data like the parameters and speed from a test EV on the campus road, the dynamic calculation of the EV is conducted to decide the rated power and speed range of the drive PMSM. Secondly, according to these requirements, an initial design and some basic design parameters are obtained. Thirdly, optimization process is implemented to improve the performance of the designed PMSM. The permanent magnet (PM) structure, airgap length and stator core geometry are optimized respectively in this step. Different optimization processes are proposed to meet multiple optimization objectives simultaneously. Based on the finite element analysis (FEA) method, it is found that the harmonic of the optimized PMSM is lower than that of the initial design, and the torque ripple is reduced by 24%. The effectiveness of optimization on the core loss and PM eddy loss is validated and the temperature rise is suppressed effectively. Finally, a prototype is fabricated for the optimized PMSM and an experimental platform is developed. The test results verify that the optimized PMSM meets the requirements of the specific campus patrol EV well.