A low-speed axial-flux PM generator for wind power systems

A new power generation system, a 30 kW axial flux PM synchronous generator, has been studied and designed for low-speed wind turbine applications. To get low cost, low weight and simple manufacture, which are highly desirable characteristics of the design, a slotless machine has been designed in order to exploit at the best the mechanical manufacture work reduction allowed by this configuration. The axial flux structure offers also the opportunity of modular machine construction and therefore, with minor modifications, allows obtaining the machine nominal power or a multiple. Moreover, in this project the connection of the generator to the wind turbine is carried out through a direct driver train, and the power electronic converter gives the advantage that the electric power is produced even in case of low wind speed, while for a standard mechanical driven wind generator the cut off condition will happen at reduced wind speed.