Analytical Performance Prediction of a New-Structured Solid-Rotor Line-Start Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Motor

The Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) motors have recently attracted more attention in various applications due to their special outstanding potentials. However, two major problems have already restricted their usage, which are the lack of starting torque and their probable instability. These problems have caused the AFPM motors to be energized so far necessarily via expensive and complicated power-electronic drives, even when are desired to operate in the constant-speed condition. Alternatively, the better and less expensive solution to these problems is to provide the Line-starting capability through modifying the motor structures. Therefore, this paper studies a Line-start Non-slotted AFPM motor with a new proposed structure. The parameters of the electrical equivalent circuit and the principal performance characteristics of the motor are extracted through establishing a detailed analytical model. Finally, the performance of the newly developed structure and the validity of the established analytical model have been successfully verified through implementing the model in MATLAB and comparing the results with those of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and experiment on a fabricated prototype. The results demonstrate the accuracy of the analytical model and appropriate performance of the motor in terms of direct start-up and synchronization.