Electro-magnetic design and analysis for a high performance, aerospace electrical machine

Abstract

The ever-growing need for more sustainable transport is leading to the push for higher performance electrical machines. Substantial innovation was, and still is being carried out in the automotive and aerospace industry. This drive for more power dense electrical machines is required for them to be feasible for real-world applications. The need for reliability is of equal importance particularly in aerospace applications, hence the elimination of mechanical gearing is beneficial. A solution to this is direct drive. Conversely, to implement direct drive the need for high torque density machines is required. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor’s (PMSM) are notorious for their ability to be power dense as well as torque dense, but are also able to produce minimal ripple torque with suitable design techniques and a proper control drive. The aim is to design, simulate and analyse an electrical machine that is most fit for aerospace applications. For the electrical machine to meet the performance requirements needed for aerospace applications, an inter-disciplinary approach which considers both the electro-magnetic and thermal models and designs was utilized. Geometric models of the stator, rotor and magnets were constructed and optimized with the use of finite element techniques. A 30kW PMSM is to be designed and analysed for use as a high performance, aerospace electrical machine. The scope of this motor is to be used in conjunction with a propeller as the main propulsion for a two seater all electric aircraft.