Analytical Design Methodology for Wind Power Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators

In this paper a novel analytical design methodology for wind power permanent magnet synchronous generators is presented. This kind of electric generator plays a major role in small-scale wind energy conversion systems up to 10 kW. The proposed diameter-cubed sizing equation is based both on the generator requirements, imposed by the application, and the design parameters that rely on the designer criteria. The magnetic field waveforms of both the permanent magnets field and the armature field are considered from the first moment through the winding factors, as well as the slots effects given by the Carter factor. The analytical model of the permanent magnet synchronous generator is validated with the finite element method, showing good agreement, both with no load and under load. As the generator is unsaturated, the main source of divergence between the analytical and the finite element model are the iron losses, due to the nonuniform magnetic field distribution.