Investigation of surface-inset Halbach machines with trapezoidal mixed grade magnets

Abstract

In order to increase the torque performance of the conventional surface-inset Halbach machines, a surface-inset Halbach machine with trapezoidal mixed grade magnets is proposed and investigated. Based on a layered and linear superposition method, the air-gap magnetic fields are analytically obtained from solution of matrix equations. In addition, the dimensions of mid-magnet and the remanences of Halbach magnets are analytically optimized. In order to show its advantages, the optimized performances of the proposed machine model are compared with those of the conventional Halbach and trapezoidal equal grade Halbach machines. The prediction shows that the proposed optimized machine model has the largest electromagnetic torque and the lowest torque ripple. The demagnetization performance is also investigated. Finally, the finite element analysis (FEA) results verify the analytical predictions.