Analysis and development of an axial flux magnetic gear

The vast majority of the existing literature on magnetic gears focuses primarily on radial flux topologies; however, axial flux magnetic gears (AFMG) offer a variety of unique advantages such as the potential for multi-stage designs and the ability to easily interface with hermetically isolated systems. This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical and 3D finite element simulation analysis of the axial flux gear topology's operating principles and torque transmission characteristics. Additionally, experimental results are presented for the first known physical prototype of a basic passive axial flux magnetic gear. This experimental data validates the accuracy of the torque transmission characteristics predicted by the simulation models and verifies the gearing functionality. Furthermore, several mechanical and structural challenges associated with the construction and evaluation of the experimental prototype are detailed for the benefit of future work.