A Design Optimization of Asymmetric Air-gap Structure for Small 3-phase Permanent Magnet SPM BLDC Motor

As many researchers are relentlessly trying to improve the power generation schemes from the power grid, to meet the constantly increasing electricity demand. In this paper, the results of a finite element analysis are carried out to study on a design optimization of an asymmetric air-gap structure in 3-phase Permanent Magnet Brushless DC Motors. To achieve a high efficiency for a 3-phase PM BLDC motor, the asymmetric air-gap structure is proposed considering the rotation direction of a motor. Generally, a single-phase BLDC motor is applied asymmetric air-gap structure for starting. This is because the asymmetric air-gap structure causes reluctance variation so the motor can utilize reluctance torque toward a rotation direction. In this paper, the asymmetric air-gap is applied to 3-phase BLDC SPM motor so it utilizes reluctance torque with alignment torque. A proposed model is designed by 2-D FE analysis and the results are verified by experimental test.