Design Optimization for Minimizing Cogging Torque in Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines

This paper deals with the optimization of a single side Axial Flux Permanent Magnet machine (AFPMM) designs with respect to cogging torque. Although the AFPMMs run generally at high speed and high torque, these machines may run at lower operational speed for aircraft applications. At lower operational speed, the cogging torque is an undesirable effect. Firstly, a reference AFPMM is designed with Finite Element Methods (FEM) and is analyzed with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in Ansoft Maxwell. According to analysis results, it is seen that the cogging torque of reference model is 6.53% of machines torque. Secondly, a parametric analysis is realized to find better stator and rotor height to lower cogging torque. Third, design parameters of AFPMM are estimated with artificial intelligence methods for minimum cogging torque under constant output torque in MATLAB. Finally, all methods are compared and discussed. The best parameters are modified according to the optimal results. In this part, different methods of the optimization problem of the AFPMM are presented.