Theoretical analysis and experiments of axial flux pm motors with minimized cogging torque

Abstract

This paper deals with analysis and experiments of an axial flux PM (AFPM) brushless dc motor with minimized cogging torque. Recently, many optimal designs for the AFPM motor have been done by finite element (FE) analysis, but such analysis is time-consuming. In this study, the equation of magnetic flux lines existing between PMs and core is assumed mathematically and the minimum cogging torque is calculated theoretically and geometrically without FE analysis. The form of equation is assumed to be a 2nd order polynomial. The skew angle that makes the cogging torque minimized is calculated theoretically, and the value of minimum cogging torque is compared with the results obtained by FE analysis and experiments. The maximum cogging torque of a proposed AFPM motor has the smallest value approximately at a skew angle of 4° in both the theoretical and FE analysis. Compared with the non-skewed motor, the cogging torque of the skewed motor can be decreased to over 90%, which has a value of 5% of the rated torque. Two types of stator cores, with the skew angle of 0° and 4°, are analyzed, manufactured, and tested experimentally.