Characteristic Analysis and Functional Validation of a Brushless Flux-Modulated Double-Rotor Machine for HEVs

This paper investigates a flux-modulated double-rotor machine (FM-DRM) for series-parallel hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Based on flux-modulated gears, the FM-DRM has similar speed-torque characteristics. Two configuration schemes are analyzed and compared for the hybrid electric system based on the FM-DRM. The boundary operating conditions of the FM-DRM system are discussed. Moreover, the power flows regarding various operating modes are investigated and corresponding power equations are deduced. An HEV system based on the FM-DRM is simulated for a driving cycle of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to verify the various operating modes. A prototype FM-DRM is manufactured and tested by a driving cycle. The feasibility of using the FM-DRM as a power-splitting device for HEVs is validated by experimental results.