2D finite element modelling approach for axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motors

Evolution of electric motors has been widely increased and components of industrial applications are shaped out with electric motors by recent developments on material technologies and computer sciences since 1970's. Researchers focused on various motor designs with more efficient, compact and power dense designs by using commercial analysis tools. Various permanent magnet motors with 2D or 3D flux paths can be confidentially and rapidly modeled and analyzed [1-4]. However, 3D motor problem such as axial flux PM motors do require 3D finite element (FE) modeling which takes significant amount of time compared to 2D FE modeling. The aim of this paper is to describe a fast 2D finite element modeling technique for 3D axial flux permanent magnet motors problems.