Title:  Multi-Physics Modeling and Design of Switched Reluctance Machines and Large Synchronous Generators

Committee: 

Dr. Habetler, Advisor   

Dr. Graber, Chair

Dr. Mayor

Abstract:

The objective of the proposed research is to develop the multi-physics models for switched reluctance machines (SRMs) and the end regions of large synchronous generators (LSGs), so as to further exploit fast and efficient methods for the design optimization that improve their performances and robustness. In particular, for SRMs, a generalized and fast analytical model based on Maxwell’s equations and magnetic equivalent circuits (MECs) that predicts the electromagnetic (EM) behaviors of SRMs with arbitrary geometries, materials and current profiles is developed and validated by its finite-element analysis (FEA) counterpart and measured results; then, a hybrid thermal model combining 2-dimensional (2D) finite-difference (FD) formulation and thermal circuits is applied to estimate the temperature based on the loss distribution calculated by the EM model. Based on the multi-physics model, the methods of design of experiments (DoE) and evolutionary algorithms are used for the multi-objective optimization (MOO) of SRMs. For LSGs, 3-dimensional (3D) EM and thermal models are constructed to estimate the magnetic field, loss and temperature distributions in the end region and are verified by the agreement between the predicted and measured temperature values. To improve the computational efficiency, a quasi-3D FD formulation of the LSG end regions is developed that can provide acceptable solutions within a short period of time and is thus an appropriate tool at the initial design stage. In addition, parametric studies and MOO algorithms are adopted to evaluate and investigate different design concepts of the LSG end regions.