Comparison of performance of the axial-field and radial-field permanent magnet brushless direct current motors using computer aided design and finite element methods

In this article, performance of 70 W, 350 rpm, axial-field and radial-field permanent magnet brushless dc motors is compared using computer aided design (CAD) and finite element (FE) methods. The design variables like number of poles, slots per pole per phase, airgap length, airgap flux density, slot electric loading, stator flux density, and the permanent magnet material are changed one at a time and the performances are calculated using the developed CAD program. The CAD results are validated by carrying out two-dimensional and three-dimensional FE analyses. It is observed that the axial-field motor gives higher efficiency, whereas the radial-field motor has less weight. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.