Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.7305/automatika.53-3.114
Optimized Design of a Brushless DC Permanent Magnet Motor for Propulsion of an Ultra Light Aircraft
Mario Jurković
orcid.org/0000-0003-4714-4389
; KONCAR Distribution and Special Transformers, Inc., Mokrovićeva 8, P.O.Box 100 HR-10090 Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Žarko
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper presents an optimized design of a low mass brushless DC (BLDC) permanent magnet motor for propulsion of an ultra light aircraft. The optimization has been carried out using Differential Evolution algorithm implemented in Matlab combined with SPEED and MotorCAD software packages for electromagnetic and thermal modeling of the BLDC motor using ActiveX technology. The credibility of the models created with SPEED and MotorCAD has been confirmed by comparing the results of simulation and measurement performed on a 12 kW synchronous permanent magnet motor available in the laboratory. The goal of the optimization has been to minimize the weight of the motor under condition that the motor delivers rated power of 15 kW at rated speed of 3000 rpm with hot-spot temperature not exceeding the temperature limits of class F insulation (155 _C). Two optimal BLDC motor designs with slot/pole combinations 12/10 and 18/16 have been obtained. The motor with 18 slots and 16 poles yields the highest torque density with the lowest mass of active parts (copper+laminations+magnets) of only 5.1 kg.
Keywords
Aircraft; Brushless DC motor; Permanent magnet motor; Optimization; Differential evolution
Hrčak ID:
89246
URI
Publication date:
20.8.2012.
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