Magnetic-thermo-structural coupling analysis of the armature windings in an air-core compulsator

Air-core compulsator, as a pulsed power supply with high energy density and high power density, operates under the condition of high speed, high current and strong magnetic field. The copper loss due to high discharge current will produce thermal stress in the armature windings during discharge. The magnetic-thermal FEA coupling analysis was done in one simulation platform and higher data transfer efficiency and more accurate results were obtained. A three dimensional coil model is built for coupling analysis simulation and verify with the result of coil prototype in the future. Besides the mechanical forces due to high rotating speed, the high current and strong electromagnetic field will induce very high electromagnetic forces in the compulsator. The extreme electromagnetic forces were applied directly to the fragile armature windings of air-core compulsator than the ferromagnetic slot walls with much higher strength of iron-core compulsator. Therefore, it is very necessary to analysis and evaluate the strength of armature windings for the safe operation and life span of air-core compulsator. The magnetic-structural coupling analysis of armature windings was analyzed and the stress distribution was presented in an assumed discharge process in the paper. According to the stress distribution characteristic of air-core compulsator, the stress strength requirements were determined for the stator and rotor windings in the radial and tangential direction. Finally, the future work about the research of pulsed alternator is suggested.