Electromagnetic Design Optimization of a Modular Linear Flux-reversal Motor

Abstract

Although modular linear flux-reversal permanent magnet motors are widely attractive for high reliability urban rail transit because of their advantages such as high power density, high reliability, low permanent magnet flux leakage problem, and improved fault-tolerant capability, they suffer from high thrust ripples. In this article the authors use a layer model for defining different optimization problems to improve thrust density, efficiency, and thrust ripples, independently and simultaneously. Design variables are chosen based on the sensitivity analysis of different objective functions relative to motor different geometrical parameters and some constraints are taken into account to avoid undesirable results. Then the proposed analytical model and optimization process are verified by time-stepping finite-element method.

Keywords:

• imperialist competitive algorithm
• modular linear flux-reversal permanent magnet motor
• multi-objective optimization
• time-stepping finite-element analysis
• geometrical parameters
• layer model
• thrust ripple
• efficiency
• thrust density
• sensitivity analysis

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zahra Nasiri-Gheidari

Zahra Nasiri-Gheidari received her B.Sc. from the Iran University of Sciences and Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2004 and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. from University of Tehran, Tehran, in 2006 and 2012, respectively, all in electrical engineering. She is currently an assistant professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran. Her research interests include design, optimization, prototyping, and performance analysis of electrical machines and electromagnetic sensors.

Farid Tootoonchian

Farid Tootoonchian received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in electrical engineering from the Iran University of Sciences & Technology and his Ph.D. from K.N. Toosi Industrial University, Tehran, Iran, in 2000, 2007, and 2012 respectively. He has done over 24 industrial projects, including one national project about electrical machines over the years, and holds five patents. He is currently an assistant professor with Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran. His research interests include design, optimization, finite-element analysis, and prototyping of ultra-high speed electrical machines and ultra-high precision electromagnetic sensors.