Magnetic Equivalent Circuit Method for Analysis of PM Flux Distribution in Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Consequent Pole Generator

According to the advantages of consequent pole machines, this paper presents a fast analytical model for estimating the components of the PM flux density distribution in the air gap for an axial flux permanent magnet consequent pole generator (AFPM-CP). The sample generator has a double-sided structure with a sector coil and poles. N identical poles (with only identical N poles in sequence and iron poles between them) are installed on the rotor, and the stator is placed between the rotors. The stator consists of coils that are wrapped concentrically around the teeth. A one-dimensional analytical solution based on the magnetic equivalent circuit method and a two-dimensional analytical solution based on the finite element method were presented to predict the performance characteristics of a three-phase AFPM-CP under no-load operating conditions. The effects of the stator slots have been studied using the air gap and flux path function methods. For verification purposes, the magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) analytical results are compared with those of the finite element method (FEM). To further validate the MEC analytical and FEM results, 3D-FEM analysis has also been performed. This means that the proposed MEC method is effective for the AFPM-CP machine.