Performance comparison of axial-flux switched reluctance machines with non-oriented and grain-oriented electrical steel rotors

Abstract

This paper studies the performance of an axial-flux switched reluctance machine (AFSRM) using GOES (grain-oriented electrical steel) in its rotor and comparing it to a NOES (non-oriented electrical steel) rotor. Indeed, the AFSRM structure lends itself well to the use of GOES, especially at the rotor. In order to evaluate the intrinsic capabilities of the AFSRM, self-inductance versus rotor position and static torque were numerically simulated at a given operating point and used as indicators for the NOES and GOES performance comparison. The static torque is also used to determine and compare the torque per volume ratios and grasp the impact of GOES use in a 3D rotating structure. The introduction of GOES in a rotating machine leads to an improvement of the electromagnetic torque mean and maximum values, allowing to evaluate the GOES impact on the machine performance.

Keywords

• axial-flux switched reluctance machine
• grain-oriented electrical steel
• non-oriented electrical steel
• electromagnetic torque