Development of Canned Line-start Rim-driven Electric Machines

Abstract

Electric machines are being deployed in industrial applications where previously only mechanical systems were considered, as environmental concerns from burning fossil fuels and energy costs are becoming a more dominant factor in system design considerations. Electric machines offer greater operational flexibility and typically higher efficiencies. There has therefore been a growing demand to develop electric machines to replace traditional mechanical systems in a number of industrial applications. One such suitable electric machine topology is the 'direct-drive' machine. These machines can be used where implementation does not require a high operating speed, therefore eliminating the necessity of a gearbox. Furthermore, direct-drive machines offer a number of advantages including reductions in through-life costs, noise and vibration, and overall system volume. This thesis explores the development of direct-drive rim-driven machines, constructed by integrating a propeller with the electric machine that is driving it, by mounting the machine directly around the outside of the propeller. A novel machine topology was developed by integrating a conducting-can onto the rotor structure capable of producing induction torque, to create a motor that can start directly from the main electric supply. This eliminated the need for a power electronic converter, gearbox and complicated drive shafts arrangement, for use in applications where only a low duty cycle of operation was required such as secondary propulsion systems for marine applications or where safety and reliability is of significant importance. A number of other industrial applications that may benefit from this canned rim-driven topology were also identified including seal-less pumps and 'run-of-the-river' generators.Permanent-magnet and induction motor topologies operating in fluid environments were investigated, using finite element analysis and thermal analysis techniques, to examine and optimise the design of the rim-driven topology for a specific operational requirement, in each industrial application area identified. A 30 kW canned line-start rim-drive induction motor was designed and developed for use as a bi-directional thruster on-board a tidal stream turbine. A novel induction motor topology was developed utilising only a conducting-can on the rotor, which eliminated the need for a traditional squirrel-cage, due to the ratio of the relatively large mean air-gap diameter to the small output power requirement; creating a simple yet reliable direct-drive canned induction motor. The design of this motor was manufactured and successfully tested to validate the design process.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2011
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Alexander Smith (Supervisor)