Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators
Generators are a key technological element of the wind energy generation system. Currently, there is an increasing interest in adopting non-conventional stator-mounted permanent magnet generators, e.g., flux reversal generators (FRGs), which is a good alternative to conventional synchronous generato...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/636 |
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| author | Manne Bharathi Udochukwu Bola Akuru Malligunta Kiran Kumar |
| author_facet | Manne Bharathi Udochukwu Bola Akuru Malligunta Kiran Kumar |
| author_sort | Manne Bharathi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Generators are a key technological element of the wind energy generation system. Currently, there is an increasing interest in adopting non-conventional stator-mounted permanent magnet generators, e.g., flux reversal generators (FRGs), which is a good alternative to conventional synchronous generators for medium-speed wind turbine generator applications. The usage of FRG with rare-earth (RE) permanent magnets (PMs) is increasing due to their high efficiency and high power density factors. However, RE PMs are unattractive to wind generators in terms of their cost and unpredictable market supply. In this paper, an attempt is made to study the potential of FRG with non-rare earths (ferrite PMs) for wind generators. The three-phase, 6/8 pole FRG is designed and compared with RE and NRE PMs for wind generator application at 375 r/min, 10 kW. Using 2D FEA, both the generators are compared in terms of their power generating performance with excellent overload capability. It shows that the average efficiency of the generators is approximately similar, but the torque density of NRE-FRG is only 51% that of RE-FRG. The NRE-FRG design is heavier, with the total active mass being 2.6 times higher than the RE-FRG, but with the estimated total active material cost of both generators almost the same. Moreover, the toque ripple for RE-FRG is 64% higher than for NRE-FRG. The demagnetization risk analysis was performed, and it is found that at higher temperatures, RE-FRG structures are prone to higher demagnetization risks, while it is much lower in NRE-FRGs. In summary, it is found that NRE-FRG is a suitable alternative to RE-FRG for medium-speed wind turbine generator applications in the 10-kW power range. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:32:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-caa33d5b016945a7ab26eee1fbff3dcb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:32:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-caa33d5b016945a7ab26eee1fbff3dcb2023-11-23T13:39:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-01-0115263610.3390/en15020636Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind GeneratorsManne Bharathi0Udochukwu Bola Akuru1Malligunta Kiran Kumar2Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Foundation, Guntur 522502, IndiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0183, South AfricaElectrical and Electronic Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Foundation, Guntur 522502, IndiaGenerators are a key technological element of the wind energy generation system. Currently, there is an increasing interest in adopting non-conventional stator-mounted permanent magnet generators, e.g., flux reversal generators (FRGs), which is a good alternative to conventional synchronous generators for medium-speed wind turbine generator applications. The usage of FRG with rare-earth (RE) permanent magnets (PMs) is increasing due to their high efficiency and high power density factors. However, RE PMs are unattractive to wind generators in terms of their cost and unpredictable market supply. In this paper, an attempt is made to study the potential of FRG with non-rare earths (ferrite PMs) for wind generators. The three-phase, 6/8 pole FRG is designed and compared with RE and NRE PMs for wind generator application at 375 r/min, 10 kW. Using 2D FEA, both the generators are compared in terms of their power generating performance with excellent overload capability. It shows that the average efficiency of the generators is approximately similar, but the torque density of NRE-FRG is only 51% that of RE-FRG. The NRE-FRG design is heavier, with the total active mass being 2.6 times higher than the RE-FRG, but with the estimated total active material cost of both generators almost the same. Moreover, the toque ripple for RE-FRG is 64% higher than for NRE-FRG. The demagnetization risk analysis was performed, and it is found that at higher temperatures, RE-FRG structures are prone to higher demagnetization risks, while it is much lower in NRE-FRGs. In summary, it is found that NRE-FRG is a suitable alternative to RE-FRG for medium-speed wind turbine generator applications in the 10-kW power range.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/636finite element analysis (FEA)flux reversal generator (FRG)medium-speednon-rare earth (NRE)permanent magnet (PM)rare earth (RE) |
| spellingShingle | Manne Bharathi Udochukwu Bola Akuru Malligunta Kiran Kumar Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators Energies finite element analysis (FEA) flux reversal generator (FRG) medium-speed non-rare earth (NRE) permanent magnet (PM) rare earth (RE) |
| title | Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators |
| title_full | Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators |
| title_short | Comparative Design and Performance Analysis of 10 kW Rare-Earth and Non-Rare Earth Flux Reversal Wind Generators |
| title_sort | comparative design and performance analysis of 10 kw rare earth and non rare earth flux reversal wind generators |
| topic | finite element analysis (FEA) flux reversal generator (FRG) medium-speed non-rare earth (NRE) permanent magnet (PM) rare earth (RE) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/636 |
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