Cost-Effective PMSM for Application in Small-Scale Wind Generators

The recently developed HUPM rotor has proven to be a promising candidate for permanent magnet machines with less rare earth materials. In this paper, this rotor configuration has been implemented in a 5kW permanent magnet generator designed for direct drive small-scale wind turbines. For comparison, an eight-pole generator with a standard SPM rotor is considered. Preliminary results indicate that the magnet weight required for the HUPM rotor design is approximately 34% lower than that of the conventional design. The design and analysis of the investigated generators are based on both analytical approach and a finite elements analysis.