Static Characteristics Analysis and Experimental Study of a Novel Axial Field Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Generator

A novel axial field flux-switching permanent magnet (AFFSPM) machine with a doubly-salient structure is developed as a wind power generator. The electromagnetic characteristics of a 0.6 kW, 3-phase 12/10-pole AFFSPM machine, including the air-gap flux density distribution, open-circuit flux linkage, EMF, and winding inductances, etc., are investigated based on 3-D finite element (FE) analysis. A prototype is built to test the characteristics under both open-circuit and load conditions. The theoretical analysis is validated experimentally. It shows that the phase EMF is essentially sinusoidal, and the machine can not only be used as a wind power generator, but also as a permanent magnet brushless AC motor.