Design and modeling of axial flux permanent magnet machine with yokeless and segment armature using magnetic equivalent circuit

This paper presents a detailed magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) method for predicting the torque performance of axial flux permanent magnet machines. The MEC model takes into account the magnetic saturation, armature reaction, leakage flux and the relative motion, provides a tradeoff between finite element method and analytical methods in terms of simulation times and accuracy. The investigated machine structure and feature are introduced, and then further analysis of the average torque and torque density are calculated with the proposed method and verified by 3D-FEM with a good agreement achieved. Sensitive parameters effects on the machine torque density are discussed, and finally an axial flux permanent magnet machine with yokeless and segment armature is optimally designed.