Overview of Magnetless Brushless Machines

What is it about?

Because of the definite merits of high efficiency and high power density, the permanent-magnet (PM) brushless machines have been dominating the high-performance industrial applications. However, the problems of high PM material cost, fluctuating supply of rare-earth materials and ineffective PM flux control have hindered the widespread applications of the PM brushless machines. In recent years, many attentions have been shifted to the magnetless candidates, while the focuses are mainly placed on the classical candidates. In this paper, an overview of magnetless brushless machines, including both the classical and advanced types, is presented, with emphasis on their machine topologies, features and performances. In addition, the upcoming trend of these machines is reviewed and discussed.

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Why is it important?

The magnetless brushless machines are becoming more attractive in recent years. Nevertheless, the research interests are mainly focused on the classical candidates, while the discussions on the advanced machine types are still inadequate. In particular, a comprehensive overview and discussion on the magnetless brushless machine family, especially on the advanced candidates, is still absent in literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the magnetless brushless machines, including both the classical and advanced candidates.

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