Permanent magnet Vernier machines: A Review

What is it about?

Permanent-magnet Vernier machines (PMVMs) gained a lot of interest over the past couple of decades. This is mainly due to their high torque density enabled by magnetic gearing effect. This paper will provide a thorough review of recent advances in PMVMs. This review will cover principle of operation and nature of magnetic gearing in PMVMs, and better understanding of novel PMVMs topologies using different winding configuration as well as different modulation poles and rotor structures. Detailed discussions on choice of gear ratio/slot-pole combinations, design optimization, power factor and role of advanced materials in PMVMs will be presented. This will provide an update on the current state-of-the art as well as future areas of research. Furthermore, design issues, fault tolerance as well as cost reduction will be discussed highlighting the gap between the current state-of-the art and what is needed in practical applications.

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Why is it important?

This overview reflects the growing interest and understanding of Vernier machines in recent years despite the fact that they have been invented several decades ago. Is has been revealed in this paper that one important aspect of PMVM’s outstanding torque capability is based on the choice of low no. of pole pairs on the stator side. Sustained efforts to develop novel optimized designs enabled by advanced materials will enable reach performance, reliability and cost targets and hence open the door for large-scale adoption of Vernier machines in a wide range of applications.

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