Development of a magnetic gearbox for high speed applications

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bristol
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

The research subject for this PhD study is the development of a magnetic gearbox for high speed applications. A particularly interesting application for high-speed magnetic gearboxes is flywheel energy storage systems. Modern designs have been prototyped that operate at very high speeds in the region of 60,000 RPM. The system-level advantage of operating at such a speed is that very high energy densities can be achieved. This does however pose significant mechanical problems. Both PM rotors spin at high speeds and thus have to be mechanically contained. As well as being the slower of the two rotors, the outer rotor is inherently contained by the gearbox casing. However, the higher-speed inner rotor experiences significant centrifugal effects and additional containment is required. Traditionally this containment has been non-magnetic. This is because highly magnetic materials will act to 'short-circuit' the magnetic flux. However, non-magnetic materials effectively increase the airgap in the magnetic circuit. Previous studies at the University of Bristol and elsewhere have demonstrated methods where low-permeability materials can be used to construct containment sleeves to improve the magnetic loading for a given thickness compared to magnetically inert materials such as carbon fibre. More recent work has looked at the development of multi-functional composites for the same purpose. Another challenge is the containment of the ferrous pole pieces in the central ring. The conventional approach to manufacturing this subassembly is to construct a non-magnetic carrier that incorporates pockets to hold the ferromagnetic poles. It is expected that the application of emerging manufacturing techniques such as multi-material sintering processes and additive manufacturing could yield significant improvements in the magnetic performance of this aspect of the gearbox. This is especially interesting when this structure forms the boundary of a vacuum. The continued evolution of magnetic gearboxes requires a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes and electromagnetic modelling. The research that will be undertaken will involve electromagnetic and mechanical material characterisation leading to electromagnetic and mechanical Finite Element Analysis of system designs as well as experimental validation though dynamometer testing of prototype systems.

Publications

10 25 50

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/N509619/1 30/09/2016 29/09/2021
1941726 Studentship EP/N509619/1 30/09/2017 29/06/2021 Alexandros Leontaritis
 
Description A novel time-efficient analysis method has been developed as part of the work funded by this award, which allows the engineer to assess problems that are impractical to assess with the common analysis methods. More specifically, the random geometric error that is introduced in the manufacture of a coaxial magnetic gear can have a significant effect on the gear's performance, which can now be investigated using the mentioned novel method. Moreover, further studies have been and are being performed and published exploring and analysing these effects.
Exploitation Route Coaxial magnetic gears are currently in a prototype phase but due to their promising technology they could soon move into a mass-manufacturing environment. In such an environment the performance effects studied as part of this work are of much higher importance. Therefore, the outcomes of this funding can be effectively put in use in the near future as the number of magnetic geared applications increases. Furthermore, results from this study can also be used as guidelines in the early design stage of future coaxial magnetic gears.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Transport

Other