Comparative Studies of Modular and Unequal Tooth PM Machines Either With or Without Tooth Tips

Abstract

This paper presents four types of three-phase permanent magnet (PM) machines, that is, modular and unequal teeth (UNET) machines either with or without tooth tips. Two-dimensional finite element (FE) modeling has been carried out to analyze the influences of flux gaps (in alternate stator teeth) and UNET widths. These influences are mainly on winding factors, air-gap flux density due to PMs, flux linkage, back-electromotive force, and electromagnetic torques. For UNET machines without tooth tips, it has been found that the UNET widths affect both winding factor and air-gap flux density due to PMs. However, for UNET machines with tooth tips, the UNET widths have no effect on machines' electromagnetic performance. Nevertheless, for modular machines, the flux gaps influence three parameters: winding factor, air-gap flux density due to PMs, and flux focusing/defocusing. Meanwhile, for different slot/pole number combinations, the influences of flux gap and UNET widths are different. Several general rules concerning these influences have been established. These general rules can be extended to other single or dual three-phase modular or UNET machines with different slot/pole number combinations. Prototypes of modular machines have been built, and the predictions and conclusions have been validated.