Operation, theory and comparison of the flux reversal machine - is it a viable proposition?

The paper describes a short theoretic study into the flux reversal machine and its potential as a high-torque drive motor when compared to other motors, especially a switched reluctance machine. The literature on this type of motor is scarce and there is still little development of the equivalent circuit and design criteria necessary to formulate a design-office procedure for developing such motors. The paper describes the fundamental concepts for the operation of the machine and highlight design criteria that are important for a good machine. A design is compared to a switched reluctance machine using finite element analysis and the SPEED software. The first machine studied was a 12/8 machine, this was then changed for a 12/16 machine.