Optimization, Electromagnetic Analysis, and Thermal Evaluation of a New FSPM Generator with Efficient Employment of Neodymium Magnets Sandwiched Between Rotor Segments

Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet (FSPM) machines have gained significant popularity in various applications due to their excellent high-power density. This paper introduces a new outer-rotor FSPM generator designed for wind turbine applications. The widths of the magnets, rotor tooth angles, and stator tooth angles are selected as design variables and optimized using the Taguchi method and the 3-D finite element method to enhance the generator's performance. The optimization results demonstrate considerable improvements in no-load phase voltage, total harmonic distortion, and cogging torque. Additionally, the thermal performance evaluation indicates that the temperature of the stator core is nearly twice that of the rotor core. This finding supports the decision to place neodymium magnets in the rotor rather than in the stator core, as these magnets are susceptible to demagnetization at high temperatures. Furthermore, the results reveal that the proportion of magnets relative to the total machine volume is significantly lower compared to other FSPM generators while still maintaining a high-power density.