Abstract
For safety-critical applications, electrical machines need to satisfy several constraints, in order to be considered fault tolerant. In fact, if specific design choices and appropriate control strategies are embraced, fault-tolerant machines can operate safely even in faulty conditions. However, particular care should be taken for avoiding uncontrolled thermal overload, which can either cause severe failures or simply shorten the machine lifetime. This study describes the thermal modelling of two permanent magnet synchronous machines for aerospace applications. In terms of the winding's layout, both machines employ concentrated windings at alternated teeth, with the purpose of accomplishing fault-tolerance features. The first machine (i.e. Machine A) adopts a three-phase winding configuration, while a double three-phase configuration is used by the second one (i.e. Machine B). For both machines, the winding temperatures are evaluated via simplified thermal models, which were experimentally validated. Copper and iron losses, necessary for the thermal simulations, are calculated analytically and through electromagnetic finite-element analysis, respectively. Finally, two aerospace study cases are presented, and the machines’ thermal behaviour is analysed during both healthy and faulty conditions. Single-phase open-circuit and three-phase short-circuit are accounted for Machines A and B, respectively.
Highlights
In traditional fuel-powered aircraft, the main task of the engines consists in producing propulsive power by converting the energy stored in the fuel
This paper focuses on the thermal behaviour of fault-tolerant permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) for aerospace applications
In this paper two fault-tolerant PMSMs for aerospace applications have been investigated with special target on their thermal behaviour in both healthy and faulty conditions
Summary
In traditional fuel-powered aircraft, the main task of the engines consists in producing propulsive power by converting the energy stored in the fuel. Condition e is usually very difficult to reach, mainly because it being inherently a system-level issue It can be met by using independent power supplies either for each machine phase [16] or for each winding set, like in double three-phase machines [7]. This approach, known as power segmentation, allows for a true electrical isolation between phases; the machine is able to operate under extreme fault conditions, such as open- and shortcircuits [17, 18]. In case of open- or short-circuit faults, PMSMs can still deliver the required torque by applying appropriate control strategies These correction strategies aim to increase the current in the healthy phases.
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