A Fully Analytical Model for the Performance Prediction of Radial Permanent Magnet Eddy Current Couplers

Permanent magnet eddy current couplers (PMECCs) have been widely used in industrial equipment due to their non-contact speed regulation function. However, temperature rises limit their performances. A fully analytical electromagnetic-thermal coupling analysis model is established. In the electromagnetic section of this model, the magnetic equivalent circuit model, which takes into account the 3-D edge effect and flux path bending effect, especially the asymmetric state of a radial PMECC, is adopted. In the temperature section of this model, the thermal network method, which takes into account the conduction thermal resistance, convection thermal resistance, equivalent air gap conduction thermal resistance, and equivalent contact thermal resistance, is implemented. The fully analytical model is solved using the iterative method and experimentally verified. The maximum relative errors of temperature and torque in the symmetrical state are 4.13% and 3.57%, respectively. In the asymmetric state, they are 4.9% and 3.95%, respectively. This research helps improve the design and speed control accuracy of magnetic transmission systems.