Flux-Regulatable Characteristics Analysis of a Novel Switched-Flux Surface-Mounted PM Memory Machine

A novel switched-flux (SF) surface-mounted permanent magnet (PM) memory machine is proposed by incorporating the flux-memorizable concept into the SF structure. It employs a temporary current pulse to magnetize/demagnetize the aluminum-nickel-cobalt (Al-Ni-Co) PMs so that the air-gap flux can be regulated online for extending its high-speed constant-power region. An analytical hysteresis modeling method is formulated and implemented by numerical nonlinear approximation of hysteresis loops, and then coupled with time-stepping finite element method to perform the analyses of both static and transient flux-regulatable characteristics. The preciseness of the coupling solution and the validity of machine design are verified by experimental results.