Axial Magnetic Fields at the Ends of a Synchronous Generator at Different Points of Operation

Axial magnetic fields leaking out at the ends of a conventional rotating synchronous machine cause losses. Therefore, it is important to be able to predict the axial magnetic fields. A linear steady-state model for the axial magnetic flux density phasor in the end regions of non-salient synchronous generators has previously been verified experimentally. This paper describes an extension of the model to salient pole synchronous generators and a method for calculating the coefficients. Experiments and 3-D finite element simulations justify a distinction between axial flux density contributions from the d and q components of the stator current. How the coefficients and the axial magnetic fields in the ends of a small synchronous generator change with steady-state operation conditions is here shown with measurements and to some extent with 3-D finite element simulations.