A Hybrid Analytical Model for Permanent Magnet Vernier Machines Considering Saturation Effect

Abstract

This article proposes a new hybrid analytical model combining subdomain model and equivalent magnetic network for permanent magnet vernier machines, which are easy to get saturated due to the air-gap field modulation effect. The key is representing saturation effect by iterating equivalent surface current as part of interface conditions in the proposed subdomain model. First, five subdomains are divided to calculate magnetic field distribution. The equivalent surface current is utilized as the boundary constraint between subdomains and iron core. Second, the equivalent magnetic network is established based on stator structure, and the fluxes flowing into flux modulation poles are equivalent as the magnetic flux sources. Node magnetic potentials can be achieved with the application of Kirchhoff's law of current. Then, the equivalent surface current is updated for convergence by node magnetic potential to accurately predict saturated performance. Finally, a prototype is manufactured, and the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model is verified by the finite-element analysis (FEA) and experimental results. The hybrid model combines the subdomain model and the equivalent magnetic network model to complement each other and it is demonstrated to be more efficient than the FEA model while maintaining high accuracy.