Abstract
The design and application of eddy current brakes (ECBs) should be simple; further, ECBs should be used semi-permanently. This study aimed to determine major parameters for designing an ECB that can be applied to a small-scale wind turbine generator. To this end, an ECB was developed that could actuate without additional power, thus improving the efficiency of the generator. A series of simulations were conducted for a parametric study to pre-design ECBs suitable for small wind turbines. The six parameters chosen were disk thickness, number of magnets, radial location of magnets from center of disk, magnet pole arrangement, magnetic flux density, and rotational speed. The simulations were conducted on COMSOL Multiphysics. The results indicated that the number of magnets and magnet pole arrangements can significantly affect the performance curve of ECBs. Moreover, the disk thickness and rotational speed are linearly proportional to the braking torque.
Highlights
The disk thickness and rotational speed are linearly proportional to the braking torque
Renewable power generation is constantly developing, and small-scale wind power generators are being widely used for household applications owing to the emergence of green growth
In the range of rotational speed covered in this study, no critical speed is observed
Summary
For the friction brake, a part of the generated power should be used to actuate the brakes This complicates the control system of the brake and lowers the power generation efficiency. Contact of the friction brake between moving parts and stationary braking pads leads to a short lifespan and high resultant maintenance as well as noise. In contrast to the friction brake, the ECB using permanent magnets does not require additional power consumption or complex control systems. The non-contact braking system of ECB increases the lifespan and reduces maintenance. Owing to these advantages, the ECB has been studied by several researchers.
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