Magnetic Equivalent Circuit Model Considering Overhang Structure of a Surface-Mounted Permanent-Magnet Motor

An overhang structure is used to enhance the air-gap flux density and increase the torque density of a motor. In the preliminary design stage, consideration of the overhang effect is important for a precise prediction of the performance of a motor with overhang and for the selection of the proper overhang length. The 3-D finite-element method (FEM) is essential when analyzing a motor with an overhang structure due to the asymmetry in the axial direction caused by overhang. However, it is computationally expensive and time-consuming, especially during the initial design stage. In this paper, we propose a magnetic equivalent circuit model, which considers the overhang structure of a surface-mounted permanent-magnet motor. With the proposed analytical method, the computational time is significantly reduced in the preliminary design stage. The proposed analytical model is verified with a 3-D FEM analysis.