Performance investigation of hybrid excited switched flux permanent magnet machines using frozen permeability method

This study investigates the electromagnetic performance of a hybrid excited switched flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machine using the frozen permeability (FP) method. The flux components due to PMs, field excitation windings and armature windings have been separated using the FP method. It has been used to separate the torque components due to the PMs and excitations, providing a powerful insight into the torque generation mechanism of hybrid excited SFPM machines. It also allows the accurate calculation of d- and q-axis inductances, which will then be used to calculate the torque, power and power factor against rotor speed to compare the relative merits of hybrid excited SFPM machines with different types of PMs (i.e. NdFeB, SmCo and Ferrite). This offers the possibility of choosing appropriate PMs for different applications (maximum torque or maximum speed). Although only one type of hybrid excited PM machine has been employed to carry out the investigations, the method used in this study can also be extended to other hybrid excited PM machines. The predicted results have been validated by tests.