Analytical Model of a Dual Rotor Radial Flux Wind Generator Using Ferrite Magnets

• Main Authors: Peifeng Xu, Kai Shi, Yuxin Sun, Huangqiu Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-08-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: dual rotor radial flux wind generator; analytical model; equivalent magnetic circuit; ferrite magnets; finite element method; optimization
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/9/672

This paper presents a comprehensive analytical model for dual rotor radial flux wind generators based on the equivalent magnetic circuit method. This model is developed to predict the flux densities of the inner and outer air gaps, flux densities of the rotor and stator yokes, back electromotive force (EMF), electromagnetic torque, cogging torque, and some other characteristics important for generator design. The 2D finite element method (FEM) is employed to verify the presented analytical model, fine-tune it, and validate the prediction precision. The results show that the errors between the proposed analytical model and the FEM results are less than 5% and even less than 1% for certain parameters, that is, the results obtained from the proposed analytical model match well the ones obtained from FEM analysis. Meanwhile, the working points at different temperatures are confirmed to exceed the knee point of the BH curve, which means that irreversible demagnetization does not occur. Finally, the optimization by FEM with the objective of fully using the inner space of the generator, decreasing the cogging torque, and reducing the total harmonic distortion (THD) of back EMF is performed.