Cogging Torque Reduction Based on a New Pre-Slot Technique for a Small Wind Generator

Miguel García-Gracia, Ángel Jiménez Romero, Jorge Herrero Ciudad and Susana Martín Arroyo
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Miguel García-Gracia: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Ángel Jiménez Romero: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Jorge Herrero Ciudad: For Optimal Renewable Energy Systems, S.L. (4fores), 50197 Zaragoza, Spain
Susana Martín Arroyo: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Cogging torque is a pulsating, parasitic, and undesired torque ripple intrinsic of the design of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), which should be minimized due to its adverse effects: vibration and noise. In addition, as aerodynamic power is low during start-up at low wind speeds in small wind energy systems, the cogging torque must be as low as possible to achieve a low cut-in speed. A novel mitigation technique using compound pre-slotting, based on a combination of magnetic and non-magnetic materials, is investigated. The finite element technique is used to calculate the cogging torque of a real PMSG design for a small wind turbine, with and without using compound pre-slotting. The results show that cogging torque can be reduced by a factor of 48% with this technique, while avoiding the main drawback of the conventional closed slot technique: the reduction of induced voltage due to leakage flux between stator teeth. Furthermore, through a combination of pre-slotting and other cogging torque optimization techniques, cogging torque can be reduced by 84% for a given design.

Keywords: cogging torque; permanent magnet synchronous generator; small wind turbines; finite element method; renewable energy; energy conversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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