Claw‐pole magnetic levitation torque motor for 2D valve with automatic neutral adjustment

Abstract In order to solve the problems of complex structure and the difficulty of neutral adjustment of the existing 2D valve electro‐mechanical converter, a kind of claw pole magnetic levitation torque motor (CPMLTM) was proposed, which automatically suspended the rotor in an axially and circumferentially neutral position by using the cogging torque and axial recovery forces between the stator claw pole and the rotor permanent magnet (PM). Compared with the conventional moving iron torque motor, it has positive magnetic stiffness, 1.54 times higher PM utilisation and 33.6% lower mass. A qualitative mathematical model of output torque is derived based on equivalent magnetic circuit model. Then, the response surface method was used to build the second‐order response surface model, and NSGA‐2 was used to optimise the design of five key structural parameters, and the non‐inferior solution sets satisfying the maximisation of the cogging torque, output torque and axial recovery force were obtained. The experimental prototype was developed, and static experiments were carried out on the experimental rigs. The results show that the relationship between the input current and the output angular displacement of the CPMLTM is linearly proportional when the magnetomotive force generated by the coil winding is from −50 to 50 A.