Robust Design of a Ceiling Fan Halbach Array PMBLDC Motor using Taguchi Orthogonal Array

This paper deals with the analysis and design of an energy-efficient ceiling fan based on low-cost, ferrite magnet quasi-Halbach array-based permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) motor. The permanent magnet (PM) Halbach array has become an attractive solution in the PM machine domain for creating high magnetic fields, and having an improved flux profile, alongside many other features. The paper also discusses the relative merits of the impact of crucial factors like slot-pole combinations from the design perspective. The design parameters are selected based on experience and manufacturing constraints, the settings and significance of which, are identified using Taguchi's orthogonal array for the optimal design of the motor. The optimal design and its effectiveness are validated using 2D finite element analysis (FEA).