Analysis of Different Winding Configuration on Electromagnetic Performance of Novel Dual Three-Phase Outer-Rotor Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Machine for Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Generation

In this article, we propose, for the first time, to apply the flux-switching permanent magnet (OR-FSPM) generator to the oscillating water column wave energy conversion (OWC-WEC), and a novel dual three-phase 24-slot/46-pole OR-FSPM generator for OWC-WEC is designed and analyzed. The feasible phase-shift angle (PH-Angle) between the two sets of windings, namely 0 degrees, 30 degrees and 60 degrees, is analyzed. The electromagnetic performance of the generator under three winding configurations is investigated, including PM flux linkage, back electromotive force (EMF), open-circuit rectified voltage, inductance, cogging torque, electromagnetic torque and unbalanced magnetic force (UMF). The prototype is manufactured, and the experimental results are consistent with that of the finite-element analysis (FEA) results. The generator with 0 degrees and 60 degrees PH-Angle winding configuration has stronger fault tolerance. When the 30 degrees PH-Angle winding configuration is adopted, it has the maximum back-EMF fundamental amplitude, maximum average electromagnetic torque and the minimum torque ripple, and there is no UMF when a single set of windings is running. Therefore, the proposed novel OR-FSPM generator with 30 degrees PH-Angle winding configuration is more suitable for OWC-WEC.