Tubular modular permanent-magnet machines equipped with quasi-Halbach magnetized magnets - Part I: Magnetic field distribution, EMF, and thrust force

This paper describes the analysis, design, and experimental characterization of three-phase tubular modular permanent-magnet machines equipped with quasi-Halbach magnetized magnets. It identifies feasible slot/pole number combinations and discusses their relative merits. It establishes an analytical expression for the open-circuit magnetic field distribution, formulated in the cylindrical coordinate system. The expression has been verified by finite-element analysis. The analytical solution allows the prediction of the thrust force and electromotive force in closed forms, and provides an effective tool for design optimization, as will be described in Part II of the paper.