Static simulation research on a new

magnetic gear
Yongkui Man Yushuang Zhao Hua Li Wensheng Hao Yuyan Ma
Department of Electrical Engineering
Northeastern University
ShenyangChina
E-mail:manyongkui@163.com

Abstract- This paper introduces a new magnetic gear, about the

structure and simple work principle, the points is the application of
static simulation in ANSYS. The paper introduces the flux lines
distribution and torque of the magnetic gears at different rotation
angles combining with the static simulation diagram, thus
explaining the principle of operation intuitively.

Key words: magnetic gear ANSYS static simulation torque

I. INTRODUCTION
It is obvious that magnetic gears have many advantages
Figure.1 The structure of the new magnetic gear
over mechanical gears, such as: non direct mechanical contact,
so as no need for lubrication and no friction between the The inner rotor contains inner rotor base, inner rotor shaft
gears, mechanical isolation allows larger installation and rotor poles. The inner rotor magnetic poles designed in
tolerance without affecting the performance, etc. Some pairs on the shaft, and inner rotor shaft is hold onto the stator
research has been carried out by some professors [1]-[4] on through the bearing. The N poles and the S poles on inner
different magnetic gears. The professor Yongkui Man at rotor should be arranged to appear interval.
Northeastern University put forth a new structure of a The stator includes external stator base, stator shaft, stator
magnetic gear with high speed ratio in 2010 [5]. In that magnetic poles. There are comb tooth structures on stator
construction, the outer rotor is at the middle layer. In this magnetic poles in the stator base. The comb structures of
paper, the outer rotor is arranged at the outer layer, and with outer rotor and stator have the same electric degree, with
the new design, it is easier to be used for the applications of which, the torque produced by the opposite poles on the outer
hoist type of loads. Furthermore, the magnetic field and rotor will be identical. The pole pitch sp can be calculated
torque analysis are presented in this paper, including the flux
according to the following formula:
line distribution and the torque characteristic at different
360R
angle by using the finite element software ANSYS. D sp
2 u psp

II. STRUCTURE OF MAGNETIC GEAR Here Psp is the number of stator pole pairs.
The new construction of magnetic gear proposed includes And the outer stator comb tooth pitch out will follow the
inner rotor, outer rotor and the stator. They are radial
formula:
concentric and mutual embedded-style assembled. There is
non-contact air gap between inner rotor and outer rotor, outer
360R
rotor and the stator. The inner rotor is in the inner with at D out
1
least one pair of permanent magnetic poles mounted. Stator is 2 psp (n r )
located in the middle, with some pairs of poles, uniformly psp
(2)
distributed, and the magnetic poles, made of ferromagnetic
material, are designed to have the comb tooth structure. The
outer rotor is at the most outer layer with the construction of And the stator comb tooth pitch s is:
continuous comb teeth on it, it is also made of ferromagnetic R
360
material [5]. The new design with the inner rotor, the outer D s D out
Nt (3)
rotor and stator comb teeth are shown in the figure. 1.

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Where: Nt is the number of outer rotor comb teeth. The
number of comb teeth corresponding to a magnetic pole
distance of stator Nsp can be derived by the following formula:
1 ratio. From the principle we can get that the r in the formula
N sp nr
psp
Where: n is a positive integer and the signs of r will
determine the rotation direction of outer rotor. To fulfill the
above principle, we can examine the following as a special
example:
The number of inner rotor magnetic pole pairs Pin is
assumed to be 1 and the number of stator pole pairs Psp is 3. It
is not difficult to understand that, with these assumptions,
when the inner rotor rotates over three stator poles, the outer
rotor will rotate for a comb tooth.
Therefore, the number of outer rotor comb teeth
the distance of stator pole pitch should be met:
1 1
N sp nr 8
psp 3
Here n=8 and the sign in the equation (4) is chosen as "+"
The number of outer rotor comb must satisfy the following
formula:
1
Nt 6 u (n r ) for the condition that magnetic field distribution is relatively
3
If n is selected as 8 and the sign is "+", then
1
Nt 6 u (8  ) 50
3
Substitute Nt into the equation (4), s and
as:
360q
Ds D out
Nt
III. THE PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
Assume the initial position is that two poles on the inner
rotor are vertical within the outer rotor. Then the comb teeth
of stator will be aligned with the outer rotor teeth because of
the produced reluctance torque, that is, holding torque. When
the inner rotor rotates over 60 degrees (a full outer rotor pitch)
clockwise, the outer rotor will rotate 1/3 comb tooth
clockwise (2.4 degrees), for the same reason of the reluctance
torque production [5].When the inner rotor rotates another 60
degrees (a outer rotor pole pitch again) clockwise, the outer
rotor will also rotate another 1/3 comb tooth clockwise (also
2.4 degrees). When the inner rotor rotates over 180 degrees
(That is an inner rotor pole pitch), the outer rotor will be
positioned again and the outer rotor will rotate over one comb
tooth from the beginning. In other words, the outer rotor will
rotate over a comb tooth if inner rotor turns an inner pole
pitch and the inner rotor and outer rotor will rotate at fixed
1
N sp nr
(4) psp
determine the rotating direction of outer rotor.
The sign + will decide the rotational directions for the inner
rotor and outer rotor at counter direction and the sign
will decide the rotational directions for the inner rotor and
outer rotor at the same direction. So we can control the
relative rotation direction between the inner rotor and the
outer rotor by choosing the required signs. We can also get
the speed ratio of the inner rotor and outer rotor, that is 25
1
IV. THE MAGNETIC FIELD CALCULATION OF NEW
N sp GEAR
over
A). The introduction of finite element method
The methods commonly used for Analysis and calculation
of magnetic field include the magnetic path method, graphic
method, test method, analytical method and numerical
calculation method, etc. The former four kinds of method are
mainly used for analyzing accuracy requirement relatively
low and magnetic field distribution relatively simple
problems. With the development of computer science and
technology, the numerical calculation method is used more
complicated and accuracy needs high requirements. The
numerical calculation method mainly includes Finite
difference method and finite element method.
The finite difference method is intuitive and easy to realize,
but the disadvantages are that mesh dissection flexibility is
small and the method is difficult to adapt the boundary with
complex shape and mobile field quantity distribution [6].
out can be got
The finite element method is one of the most commonly
used methods in engineering electromagnetic field calculation.
It is on the basis of the variational principle; at the same time
7.2q
it has the basic idea of the discrete processing in finite
difference method. Moreover the finite element method of
mesh dissection is more flexible and can do good
approximation in irregular boundary. Therefore it has good
adaptability and high precision characteristics. The basic
principle is the complex field is regarded as finite number of
element organizing the composition as a whole, then each
unit is analyzed to get each unit equation, based on this, get
all elements together to make an overall synthesis,
establishing the system of simultaneous equations. Finite
element method can adapt to the complex due to the field of
boundary, discrete points are more casual, has good
calculation accuracy, and each link is easily standardized and
to form the general program. Therefore, the finite element
method has become a very efficient numerical calculation
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method in the field of electromagnetic field analysis, but also Surface current source generated by the Lorentz force of
is in constant development and improvement. LJsmds for:
dF LJ sm ds u B (10)
B. Tthe magnetic field calculation of magnetic gear
The torque is
Magnetic fields produced by permanent magnet gear can dT r u ( LJ sm ds u B) (r B) LJ sm ds  (r LJ sm ds) B
be regarded as steady-state field, the basic equations for: L[(r B) J sm  (r J sm ) B]ds
u H J (11)
5 L(5)
for the length of Permanent magnet gear; Jsm for surface
B 0 current density; ds is the width of current element; r is
B PH
radius vector from the center of magnet gear to the face
current source. The torque produced by each face current is
J for current density and for magnetic permeability. By given for:
regarding the magnetic vector potential A as variables, for
homogeneous medium, there is the Poisson equation Tc L [(r B) J sm  (r J sm ) B]ds
S (12)
So the whole torque is
2 A PJ (6) T T c (13)
The solution of Two-dimensional nonlinear constant
2). 2-d simulation of ANSYS
magnetic field can be transformed into the following
condition of boundary value problems: The third section introduced basic working principle of
permanent magnetic resistance type gear, but only for the
w wA w wA qualitative analysis. This section will study the dynamic
: : wx (v wx )  wy (v wy ) 0 (7)
situation for the gear with 2-d finite element method for
S1 : A | s1 A0
analysis tools and a ratio for 25:1 magnetic gear design
wA
S2 : v |s J examples for research object. For analysis, in order to
wn 2
simplify the questions, we assume below first:
(1)use the vector magnetic bits of A for solution, and A
: for solving the region, S 1 for a class of boundary, only has axial components, so magnetic field can be
S 2 for category border, v 1 / P for magnetic resistance rate. simplified as 2d field;
(2)Ignore the hysteresis effect and the magnetization curve
By the variational principle, the type of conditions boundary adopts a single value curve.
value problems can be transformed into equivalent conditions (3) Don't consider eddy current effect.
(4)Ignore magnetic flux leakage of the inside and the
variational problem: outside surfaces of the model; materials is isotropic; Ignore
 temperature effect of the magnetic permeability .
W ( A) B


(
:
0
vBdB  J )dxdy  J Ads
S1 8
Usually the permanent magnet treatment method can be
divided into two kinds: one kind is to deal directly with law;
A | S1 A0 another kind is the permanent magnets equivalent.
Table 1 The parameter of reluctance magnetic gear
W (A) for energy functional. After discretization, the
formula can be converted into the high-order linear equations Parameter
 Value
number of outer rotor 50
[ K ]{A} { p}  comb Nt
[K] for general coefficient matrix; {P} for right-side vector. tooth pitch of stator and 7.2
A lot of methods for solving the formula, the commonly used external rotor
tooth width 3.4
method is Newton method and captains of rice Michelson slot width 3.8
over relaxation iteration method, etc. pole angle of stator 32.2
tooth height of stator and 8mm
C. Using finite element method to calculate the permanent the outer rotor
width of air gap between
magnet gear torque 2mm
stator and outer rotor
resistivity of air 10E+7m
1). 2d finite element analysis width of air gap between 2mm
The torque received for magnet gear transmission, can be the internal rotor and stator
regarded as the equivalent surface current in magnetic field outside diameter of the 300mm
generated by Lorentz force. Gear transmission torque is the outer rotor
surface source current generated by the torque superposition. Yoke diameter within the 276mm
outer rotor D2

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 The outer rotor Bore D1 260mm tooth and outer rotor tooth, and torque is not equal to
external diameter of 256mm 0.According to magnetic resistance minimum principle,
the stator D3
Yoke diameter of the 246mm
exterior rotor will be affected by the circumferential
stator D4 counterclockwise force function, making the exterior rotor of
Yoke diameter within 225mm gear rotate counterclockwise.
the stator D5
external diameter of the 221mm
inner rotor
width of permanent 50mm
magnet
height of permanent 40mm
magnet
coercive force of 894KA/m
permanent magnet
Air relative magnetic 1.0
permeability
resistivity of ferromagnetic 0.57m
materials
relative magnetic 1000
permeability of
ferromagnetic materials
Figure 4.=30flux lines distribution Figure5. =45eflux lines distribution
resistivity of permanent 1.44m
magnet
relative magnetic 1.05 In figure 4, the flux lines partly go through air gap between
permeability of permanent the stator and rotor, and the rest through adjacent two teeth of
magnet stator to complete closure .According to smart design of the
gear structure, the circumferential resultant force beared by
3). static simulation of the gear the outer rotor is 0.The torque is 0.
In figure5, field distribution and 15 field distribution are
Take the gear angular velocity 1000rpm for example, study very similar, but the flux lines of 45emostly goes through
the gear dynamic conditions and torque. According to the the adjacent stator big gear, making the opposite direction of
principle of gear operation, the angular velocity at exterior the tooth angle exist between stator and the outer rotor, thus
rotor will be 40rpm. outer rotor bearing clockwise circumferential resultant force.
On the basis of gear structure symmetry and the
principle of operation, each 60 is a cycle. So we just need to
research the internal gear 60 degrees of rotation, partial
simulation magnetic chart shown below:

Figue6. =60eflux lines distribution

In figure 6, the field distribution and 0 field are similar.

Figure 2 .=0flux lines distribution Figure 3. =10 flux lines distribution
From figure 2, we can see almost all flux lines go through
the tooth department between the exterior rotor and stator,
dividing two roads to complete closure in the outer rotor. The
flux lines distribution inside the inner rotor is relatively
uniform. The stator tooth department is relative to the outer
rotor, and torque is approximate to 0.
In figure 3, the flux lines go through most of the stator
into exterior rotor, still have a small part through the air-gap
between the inner rotor and exterior rotor and even very small
part through adjacent stator gear into the exterior rotor to
complete closure. There is tooth Angle between the stator
When stator rotates just at the adjacent big gear of stator, a
cycle rotation is completed.
This is the inner rotor rotating 1/3 pole torque distribution
in the process of gear rotating. We can see the distribution of
magnetic circuit from the flux lines. According to the
principle of reluctance motor, the flux lines always tries to go
through the path with the least magnetic resistance to
complete closure. Similarly, the gear torque produced makes
the rotor rotate in order to get the magnetic resistance of
magnetic circuit to be the smallest. Therefore, from the
magnetic field distribution and the structure of gear, we can
know the torque direction in any state of permanent magnetic
resistance type gear.

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 When the turning Angle < 30ethe outer rotor bears
counterclockwise circumferential resultant force ,making gear When the stator and rotor teeth are unanimous in radial
rotate counterclockwise ;When 30 << 60 , the outer rotor direction and in the same line, that is stator tooth and tooth
bears clockwise circumferential resultant force. Because of align the torque, the torque is 0, ignoring calculation error
inertia effect, gear still rotate in the former direction, that is produced by the limitation of element enmeshment in
counterclockwise rotation. In that way the gear rotates ANSYS. With the increase of rotating angle, magnetic
continuously, achieving the purpose of transmission speed. resistance between stator and the outer rotor also increase
accordingly. At the same time, the magnetic field generated
We can get the data from dynamic simulation as follow: by permanent magnets, will produce force on the rotor, in a
bid to discourage the reluctance of increase. If the force is
Table2. Data about rotation angle and torque decomposed according to the circumferential and radial
decomposition, due to the rotor radial symmetry, axis radial
Rotating angle( )
10e 15e 20e 30e 35e force is zero, only to the force in the circumferential direction,
TorqueN*m which make the torque produced by rotor hinder magnetic
-86.71 -77.79 -71.1 0.50 39.90
resistance increasing, thus making magnetic resistance
Rotating angle( ) 40e 45e 50e 55e 60e between the stator and the rotor tend to be the smallest.
TorqueN*m 64.14 89.47 84.43 53.85 0.49
V.SUMMARY

In this paper, the construction of a novel magnetic gear is

Considering the drawing of the accuracy of CAD and proposed, the principle feasibility of the new magnetic gear is
ANSYS calculation error, use MATLAB curve fitting proved by static simulation in ANSYS. The production of the
techniques, we can get the new data below and draw the reluctance torque of the magnetic gear is analyzed. From the
torque and rotation Angle of relation curves again. analysis in the paper, it is not difficult to understand that the
number of the stator comb teeth, Nt, can be set as a quite
Table3. new data about rotation angle and torque large figure, by which, the speed ratio will be large
correspondingly. This benefit can also find specially
Rotating
angle( )
10 15 20 30 35 applications in various areas.
torque - - -
N*m 77.30 86.31 68.99
-3.56 36.49 VI. REFERENCE
Rotating 40 45 50 55 60 [1] Atallah, k., and Howe, D.:A novel high-performance magnetic gear,
angle( ) IEEE Trans.Magn., 2001, 37, (4).pp.2844-2846.
torque 68.23 86.36 84.65 55.12 -0.67 [2] Attallah, K., Calverley,S.D., and Howe ,DD.:Design, Analysis and
N*m realization of a high-performance magnetic gear , IEEE Proc.-ellectr.
Appl., March 2004, Vol. 151, No.2, pp. 135-143.
[3] Tsurromoto, K.,and Kikuchi, S.:A New Magnetic Gear Using
Permanent Magnetl, IEEE Trans.Magn. september 1987,23,5,pp.3622-
3524.
[4] Ikuta, K., Makita, S., and Arimoto, S.: Non-Contact Magnetic Gear for
Micro-Transmission Mechanism, Proc. IEEE Conf. On Micro
electrical mechanical System, MEMS91, Nara, Japan, 1991, pp. 125-
130.
[5] Man Yongkui, Zhao Yushuang, Bian Chunyuan, Wang Shuangquan,
Zhao Hongbin: A kind of magnetic gear with high speed ratio
ICISRS04-078021P, The 3rd International Conference on Information
Sciences and Interaction Sciences, June 23-25, 2010, Chengdu, China
Proceedings
[6] Yuejin Zhang.Research on Numerical and Analytical Combine Method
of Magnetic Field Computation for Rotational Electrical
Machines,Shanghai university press,China,2009



Figure 7. Rotation angle and torque of relation curves

From figure 7, we can regard the curve of the rotation

angle and torque as sine function relations approximately.

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