Unbalanced Magnetic Pull Comparison of Air-gap Winding and Iron-cored

Permanent Magnet Machines for Direct Drive Wind Turbines

PO.340
Kaswar Mostafa*, Latha Sethuraman*, Markus A. Mueller*
*Institute for Energy Systems, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Email: k.mostafa@ed.ac.uk

Abstract

Results

Drive-train components in wind turbines experience significant varying loads.

Magnetic flux density in 5 MW iron-cored machine

using FEMM

Magnetic flux density in 5 MW air-gap winding

machine using FEMM

Unbalanced magnetic pull in the generator is induced when a misalignment

(rotor eccentricity) occurs because of the fluctuating wind speed. The paper
presents a comparison between two types of permanent magnet generator
used in direct drive wind turbines. Analytical model to compute the air-gap flux
density and unbalanced magnetic force for air-gap winding machine is
introduced. The model has been validated using 2D electromagnetic finite
element analysis software. Multi-body simulation software was used to
compare the effect of rotor eccentricity and unbalanced magnetic pull on the
drive-train bearing for both types of generator.

Introduction
Schematic draw for static rotor eccentricity

If the rotor shaft assembly is stiff and if

UMP induced in 5MW air-gap winding machine for different

rotor eccentricities and different loading cases

UMP induced in 5MW iron-cored machine for different

rotor eccentricities and different loading cases

there is a displacement in the rotational

centre with respect to the geometric
centre of the stator bore, then this is
known as static eccentricity.
Schematic draw for dynamic eccentricity

If the rotor is eccentric with respect to

the

shaft,

and

the

bearings

Net UMP forces and shaft displacement measured at a wind speed of 4 [m/s]

are

concentric with respect to the stator,

then the centre of the rotation changes
when rotor rotates. This situation is
known

as

the

dynamic

or

rotating

Net UMP forces and shaft displacement measured at a wind speed of 15 [m/s]

eccentricity.

When the rotor in an electrical machine is eccentric, a net radial force is

generated, which will pull the rotor off center leading to an asymmetric load on

Net UMP forces and shaft displacement measured at a wind speed of 25 [m/s]

the bearings. Such a force is referred to as unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP).

Machines design
Air-gap winding machine and iron-cored machine specifications

Comparison of UMP forces against bearing reaction at a wind speed of 25 [m/s]

Bearing stiffness case 1

Bearing stiffness case 2

Conclusions
The results show a linear relationship between the rotor eccentricity and the
unbalanced magnetic pull
The effect of the armature reaction in both types seems to be very small and
can be disregarded
The static eccentricity and the induced UMP seem to have small effect on the
lifetime of the bearing because of the high stiffness of the bearing

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