Abstract
A simple and accurate method based on the magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) model is proposed in this paper to predict magnetic flux density (MFD) distribution of the air-gap in a Lorentz motor (LM). In conventional MEC methods, the permanent magnet (PM) is treated as one common source and all branches of MEC are coupled together to become a MEC network. In our proposed method, every PM flux source is divided into three sub-sections (the outer, the middle and the inner). Thus, the MEC of LM is divided correspondingly into three independent sub-loops. As the size of the middle sub-MEC is small enough, it can be treated as an ideal MEC and solved accurately. Combining with decoupled analysis of outer and inner MECs, MFD distribution in the air-gap can be approximated by a quadratic curve, and the complex calculation of reluctances in MECs can be avoided. The segmented magnetic equivalent circuit (SMEC) method is used to analyze a LM, and its effectiveness is demonstrated by comparison with FEA, conventional MEC and experimental results.
Highlights
In recent years, the Lorentz motor (LM) has been applied widely as an actuator to generate forces with direct drive, fast response time, great precision, low noise, low vibration, etc. [1,2]
This paper presents a segmented magnetic equivalent circuit (SMEC) method, which can be used to analyze the magnetic field of the LM with considerably reduced complexity
The magnetic field of the LM can be analyzed with considerably reduced complexity and the relation between the air-gap magnetic flux density (MFD) and the parameters of LM
Summary
The Lorentz motor (LM) has been applied widely as an actuator to generate forces with direct drive, fast response time, great precision, low noise, low vibration, etc. [1,2]. Despite the above superior performance, some properties like the power-to-weight ratio, efficiency, speed range and cost etc., remain to be improved [3,4] It has been shown in the literature that flux leakage and magnet end flux have substantial effects on the magnetic analysis [5,6,7,8], so that an accurate magnetic flux density (MFD) distribution model of the LM, especially including flux leakage and magnet end flux, is critical. MEC, based on the Kirchhoff’s law, has become an efficient magnetic analysis method [3,9] Advantages such as moderate accuracy, reduced model complexity and low computational cost, make it an effective means in the design of motors [9,11,12]. This SMEC method and the curve prediction method are validated by comparison with FEA, conventional MEC method and experimental results
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