Axial Flux Motor

Solutions > E-Motor > Axial Flux Motor

Description

This solution (hereinafter referred to as AFM solution) is used to quickly model axial flux machines (both the geometry and the mesh) and perform basic physics simulations (currently supports the following analyses: Cogging Torque, Back EMF, and Constant Speed).

The AFM solution GUI is shown below and consists of three parts:
  1. Defining the motor geometry
  2. Defining the test type
  3. Basic solution settings


Note:
  1. Initial materials will be automatically assigned to all created bodies and can be updated later.
  2. When the test type is set to Cogging Torque, the coupling circuit will not be created, and all meshed coils are considered as air.
  3. When the test type is set to Back EMF or Constant Speed, a three-phase coupled circuit will be automatically generated and fully defined when the motor geometry meets the following common slot-pole number combinations:
    1. The number of slots per pole per phase = 0.5

      Three coil bodies will be represented in the periodic motor model.

    2. The number of slots per pole per phase = 0.4

      Six coil bodies will be represented in the periodic motor model.

    3. When the number of slots per pole per phase is equal to other values, the user can manually set up the circuit to accommodate the desired fractional winding.

Motor geometry creation: AFM template

The AFM solution will use SimLab’s built-in AFM modeling tool (Create Axial Flux Machine) to quickly generate 3D motor geometry.



Please refer to the help page of the Create Axial Flux Machine tool for more information.

Test type 1: Cogging Torque

When selecting Cogging Torque as the test type, the user can define the following settings to complete the solution:
  • Specify Angular position or Time as the Control parameter
  • Define the simulation interval (the final value and the increment)
  • Define the Speed

After validating the settings, SimLab will automatically create a 3D Transient Magnetic solution and all necessary LBCs (symmetry, periodicity, infinite region, magnets, motion).



The solution is ready to be solved. Users can also modify the LBCs before solving.

Example of Cogging Torque result:



Test type 2: Back EMF

When selecting Back EMF as the test type, the user can define the following settings to complete the solution:
  • Specify Angular position or Time as the Control parameter
  • Define the simulation interval (the final value and the increment)
  • Define the Speed and the Initial Position
  • Define the winding setting (only the number of coil turns is considered in this case)

After validating the settings, SimLab will automatically create a 3D Transient Magnetic solution and all necessary LBCs (symmetry, periodicity, infinite region, magnets, motion, and also the coupling circuit).



The solution is ready to be solved. Users can also modify the LBCs before solving.

Example of Back EMF result:



Test type 3: Constant Speed

When selecting Constant Speed as the test type, the user can define the following settings to complete the solution:
  • Specify Angular position or Time as the Control parameter
  • Define the simulation interval (the final value and the increment)
  • Define the Speed and the Initial Position
  • Define the winding settings (current, control angle, number of coil turns)

After validating the settings, SimLab will automatically create a 3D Transient Magnetic solution and all necessary LBCs (symmetry, periodicity, infinite region, magnets, motion, and also the coupling circuit).



The solution is ready to be solved. Users can also modify the LBCs and also the circuit parameters before solving.

Example of Constant Speed result: