Permanent Magnet Machines

Abstract

Permanent magnet excited machines have always featured strongly in the application of magnets, and forecasts indicate that they will continue to do so. Compared to other machine formats, such as those based on induction or switched reluctance principles, permanent magnet excited types provide considerable flexibility in design, and many different configurations of machine have been developed to make effective use of alternative types of magnet. After reviewing the fundamental torque (or force) producing mechanisms in electrical machines, the basic operating principles and characteristics of the different categories of permanent magnet machine, embracing continuous, incremental, and limited motion devices, are discussed.