With the increasing requirements and demands for electric machines in various applications, axial-flux machines (AFMs) attract more and more attention in recent years because of their unique merits of high power density, compact structure, and high material utilization. This article mainly investigates the topologies of AFMs and corresponding modeling methods. In general, AFMs can be classified according to different criteria. One classification is based on the machine configuration, and another one is based on their operational principles. The first classification discusses the characteristics of single-side AFMs, double-side AFMs, and multidisk AFMs. The second classification discusses the characteristics of conventional AFMs and emerging AFMs. As for the modeling methods, this article summarizes finite-element methods (FEMs) and analytical methods in detail. Based on these investigations, the article can provide the guidance and foresights for the design and analysis of AFMs.

High-performance propulsion motors for more electric aircrafts (MEAs) are highly appreciated in transportation electrification. For the widely adopted permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) for MEA propulsion, the segmented Halbach magnetization has distinct merit that it contributes to sinusoidal air-gap magnetic fields for smooth operation. However, it is hard to fast predict the field distribution and machine performance due to the model complexity. Based on the subdomain method, this paper first proposes an exact analytical model for slotless PMSM with segmented Halbach PMs. Then, the model is applied in the fast computation of magnetic field and performance prediction. Subsequently, the analytical results are compared with the finite element method (FEM), including the flux density, flux linkage, induced voltage, and steady-state torque at different loads. Also, the computation burden and prediction error are included to validate the model rapidity and accuracy. Finally, by prototype fabrication and unique field measurement methods, the flux density distribution is originally validated.

This article proposes a novel flux weakening scheme for five-phase PMSM with active harmonic currents injection. The conventional flux weakening control schemes applied in the five-phase PMSM do not consider the voltage limit drop in the fundamental subspace due to the harmonic current controller. Thus, the derivation between the reference current trajectory and actual current trajectory would cause the current distortion when applying deadbeat current controller (DBCC). This article analyses the precise voltage limit circles considering the voltage drop caused by the resistance and harmonic currents control at first. Then, a feed-forward flux weakening control algorithm is designed to optimize the current trajectory online. The gradient descent method is used to ensure the converge speed and stability of the optimized current trajectory. Thirdly, the peak value of phase currents would be clipped by the harmonic currents to prevent the inverter current limit, where a new non-linear harmonic current controller is designed to precisely control the harmonic currents. Finally, the DBCC and modified SVPWM technology are utilized to generate the duty cycle. The proposed improved flux weakening control strategy is successfully implemented in an interior five-phase PMSM, and the performance demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy.

This article presents a novel magnetic-geared direct-drive machine (MGDM) with V-shaped permanent magnets (PMs) installed on its rotor. By extending the inner rotor shaft and connecting it to a prime motor, the torque and power density of the proposed MGDM are boosted. In addition, compared with the conventional MGDM with surface-mounted PMs (SPMs), the proposed MGDM with V-shaped PMs has a more robust rotor structure to cope with extreme operating conditions. The operating principle and structure requirement of this MGDM are first derived. Then, the geometrical parameters are optimized via a three-stage multiobjective optimization method to maximize output torque and efficiency and minimize torque ripple via the genetic algorithm (GA) and finite element analysis (FEA) combined optimization strategy. Furthermore, the proposed MGDM is artfully integrated into hybrid electric ships (HESs) to construct an onboard integrated power system (OB-IPS). Since the proposed system possesses various operating modes to cope with practical operating conditions, it enjoys a high systematic efficiency and good dynamic performance. Finally, a prototype is fabricated and tested with various operating modes by referring to the practical navigation cycle of an HES. The experimental results validate the feasibility of the proposed MGDM for being applied in HESs.

Unprecise voltage vectors applied in conventional model predictive control (MPC) would cause additional ripples in electromagnetic torque. To eliminate the problem, this article proposes an improved model predictive torque control (MPTC) based on deadbeat solution and discrete space-vector modulation (DSVM) for dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs). First, deadbeat-direct torque and flux control (DB-DTFC) algorithm is applied and simplified, so that the computational burden can be reduced. Second, the virtual voltage vectors (VVVs) are adopted in dual three-phase voltage vector space to reduce voltage harmonics. Also, the DSVM is further proposed in this VVVs based vector space to generate more voltage vectors. After that, the simplified DB-DTFC and the DSVM scheme are artfully combined to select suitable voltage vector candidates for the MPTC, and the best one is then chosen to control the dual three-phase PMSMs. Finally, both simulation and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

To solve the following problem: the action speed of protection based on a phasor is restricted by the length of the filtering algorithm time window and the vulnerability to false data, a new pilot protection principle for transmission lines based on waveform similarity is proposed in this paper. By comparing the discrete point sets of current sampling values, a waveform similarity-based algorithm called the Hausdorff distance distinguishes the difference between both side currents of a protected transmission line, realizing fast identification, and removal of the fault. Based on the characteristics of the algorithm, setting methods and protection criterion are discussed. Finally, an improved Hausdorff distance algorithm is proposed to cope with false data. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed algorithm are validated with theoretical analysis and extensive simulation test results.