arXiv subjects

James L. Kirtley

Publications and source records attributed to James L. Kirtley.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Two-Phase Switched Reluctance Motors: Optimal Magnet Placement and Drive System for Torque Density

This paper focuses on designing new motors with high torque density, which is crucial for applications ranging from electric vehicles to robotics. We propose a double-teeth C-core switched reluctance motor with hybrid excitation, integrating permanent magnets and a novel drive technique to enhance motor torque density. We explore three magnet placement configurations to maximize torque. A common challenge with most self-starting methods used in two-phase SRMs is the generation of negative torque, which reduces the motor's torque density. Our adopted self-starting method minimizes negative torque, and we introduce a new drive strategy to control the switching on and off, effectively eliminating negative torque. Additionally, magnetic equivalent circuits are developed for the analytical design and theoretical analysis of all configurations. The SRMs under study are prototyped and tested, and their performances are evaluated in terms of torque-angle characteristics, current, and voltage. Both experimental and simulation results validate the effectiveness of the PM-assisted SRMs in enhancing torque density and efficiency.

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arXiv2024

Analytic Design of Flat-Wire Inductors for High-Current and Compact DC-DC Converters

This paper presents analytic study and design considerations of flat wire inductors with distributed gaps for high-power and compact DC-DC Converters. The focus is eddy current loss components within the conductors due to fringing and leakage fluxes. A magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) is proposed in which eddy currents are modeled by MMFs opposing the primary flux as well as frequency dependent reluctances, which finally leads to a frequency dependent inductance describing the behavior of the inductor at high frequencies. Three formulations for DC resistance depending on the required accuracy are developed. Calculations of the AC resistance based on vector potential obtained from FEM are provided. To provide an insight into the optimized design of such inductors, components of the magnetic flux and induced eddy currents along with sensitivity of the main inductor quantities such as DCR, ESR, loss components and inductance values to the design parameters are investigated. Finally, an inductor is prototyped and experimentally tested to verify the design.

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arXiv2024

Topology Optimization in Three-Phase C-Core SRMs

This paper investigates the optimized combination of rotor and stator teeth in a three-phase switched reluctance motor featuring a connected C-core topology to attain a larger winding area and, thus, a higher electrical loading capability, leading to a higher torque density. The general formulation is discussed. Additionally, the shorter flux path within the design leads to a reduced core loss. The finite element method is employed in the design and field analysis. A comparison with a conventional motor shows the superiority of the proposed configuration. The optimized design is prototyped and tested. Both static and dynamic torques are extracted. A good correlation between simulation and experimental results is observed.

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arXiv2024

Modeling and Design Optimization of a Linear Motor with Halbach Array for Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology

This paper presents analytical modeling and design of a high-acceleration, low-vibration slotless double-sided linear motor with an arbitrary Halbach array for lithography machines used in semiconductor manufacturing technology. Amperian current and magnetic charge models of permanent magnets are integrated into a hybrid approach to develop comprehensive analytical modeling. Unlike conventional methods that treat magnets as sources for Poisson's equations, the solution is reduced to Laplace's equations, with magnets being represented as boundary conditions. The magnetic fields and potentials within distinct regions, along with machine quantities such as shear stress, force-angle characteristics, torque profile, attraction force, misalignment force, and back-EMF, are derived, comprehensively analyzed, and compared to FEM results for accuracy validation. In addition, two models based on Poisson's equations in terms of scalar and vector potentials are derived, compared, and analyzed. Finally, design optimization and sensitivity analysis of a linear stage for lithography applications are discussed.

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arXiv2024

A Novel Radial-Flux IPM Eddy-Current Coupler for Wind Generator Applications

A novel radial-flux eddy-current coupler with interior permanent magnets (IPM) is proposed, providing higher demagnetization tolerance, making it well-suited for applications with limited accessibility, such as offshore wind generation. Finite element analysis is employed in the design and derivation of coupler quantities. Finally, the coupler is prototyped to experimentally validate the design and the simulation results.

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arXiv2024

An Actuator with Magnetic Restoration, Part I: Electromechanical Model and Identification

Electromechanical models are crucial in the design and control of motors and actuators. Modeling, identification, drive, and current control loop of a limited-rotation actuator with magnetic restoration is presented. New nonlinear and linearized electromechanical models are developed for the design of the drive as well as small and large signal controls of the actuator. To attain a higher accuracy and an efficient design, and the eddy-currents in the laminations and magnet are modeled. This involves analytically solving 1-D and 2-D diffusion equations, leading to the derivation of a lumped-element circuit for system-level analyses, such as control system design. Additionally, the study analyzes and incorporates the impact of pre-sliding friction. The actuator is prototyped, and the paper delves into the identification of the model, presenting a procedure for parameter extraction. A close agreement is observed between the results obtained from the model, finite element analysis, and experimental results. The superiority of the proposed model over previous approaches is highlighted. Part II of the paper is dedicated to the drive circuit, the current control, as well as linear and nonlinear position control system designs.

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arXiv2024

An Actuator with Magnetic Restoration, Part II: Drive Circuit and Control Loops

In part II, an op-amp-based drive is proposed and designed. Subsequently, a very accurate model for the drive circuit and the current loop is developed as a simulation platform, while its simplified version is derived, tailored for efficient design purposes. Through a comprehensive evaluation, the accuracy and efficacy of both the actuator and drive circuit modeling is scrutinized, showcasing their superiorities over existing approaches. The importance of eddy current modeling is underscored. Also, the effectiveness of the designed current loop and its practical trade-offs are engineered and discussed. Then, three DSP-based position control techniques are implemented: pole placement with voltage drive, pole placement with current drive, and nonlinear control with feed linearization. Both full-order and reduced-order observers are leveraged to estimate the unmeasured states. The performance of control designs across various applications are evaluated through indices such as rise time, overshoot, steady-state error, and large-signal tracking in the step response as well as bandwidth, robustness, phase margin, sensitivity, disturbance rejection, and noise rejection in the frequency domain. The distinctive features of implemented control strategy are compared, offering a nuanced discussion of their respective advantages and drawbacks, shedding light on their potential applications.

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arXiv2016

High-Fidelity Model Order Reduction for Microgrids Stability Assessment

Proper modeling of inverter-based microgrids is crucial for accurate assessment of stability boundaries. It has been recently realized that the stability conditions for such microgrids are significantly different from those known for large- scale power systems. While detailed models are available, they are both computationally expensive and can not provide the insight into the instability mechanisms and factors. In this paper, a computationally efficient and accurate reduced-order model is proposed for modeling the inverter-based microgrids. The main factors affecting microgrid stability are analyzed using the developed reduced-order model and are shown to be unique for the microgrid-based network, which has no direct analogy to large-scale power systems. Particularly, it has been discovered that the stability limits for the conventional droop-based system (omega - P/V - Q) are determined by the ratio of inverter rating to network capacity, leading to a smaller stability region for microgrids with shorter lines. The theoretical derivation has been provided to verify the above investigation based on both the simplified and generalized network configurations. More impor- tantly, the proposed reduced-order model not only maintains the modeling accuracy but also enhances the computation efficiency. Finally, the results are verified with the detailed model via both frequency and time domain analyses.

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