Effect of stator permanent magnet thickness and rotor geometry modifications on the minimization of cogging torque of a flux reversal machine

This paper attempts to examine the effect of stator-rotor geometry on the minimization of cogging torque of a flux reversal generator (FRG). With respect to stator geometry, height (or thickness) of the permanent magnets of the stator poles was varied and cogging torque minimization was observed. With respect to rotor geometry, the following cases were considered: a) rotor pole arc variation and b) V-shaped punches on the rotor pole. The characterization of FRG under these cases for the observation of the effects on cogging torque was performed using three-dimensional finite element analysis. From the results of simulation, a model was selected for prototyping. The working model was thus made and validated. Discussions of the possible inferences of every case are systematically provided. Such a sensitivity analysis focused on the reduction of cogging torque is a new addition to the FRG literature.