Advanced Methods for Modeling, Analysis and Design of Electric Machines and Electromechanical Devices

Dear Colleagues,

Electric machines and electromechanical devices are extensively used, as motors/actuators, as generators and even as sensors, in a vast range of diverse applications. They are then expected to address very different requirements, in terms of power, torque/force, speed, ripple, efficiency, reliability, robustness, environmental conditions, weight/volume/shape constraints, specific performances, cost effectiveness, suitability for operating via power converters or directly connected to the grid etc. The development of suited effective models for such devices then constitutes a key enabler to permit one to analyze their behavior under various operative conditions at different appropriate detail levels during the design process, thus allowing one to obtain an optimized outcome in a more efficient way.

This Special Issue aims to gather and compare advanced methods for the modeling, analysis and design of electric machines and electromechanical devices of any kind (from induction machines to wound field, PM and reluctance synchronous, to switched reluctance, vernier, switched flux, homopolar and other unconventional structures), featuring any topology (from radial and axial flux rotary devices to linear and multi-degree-of-freedom actuators), and including bearingless machines and magnetic levitators.

Modeling methods focused on the electro-magneto-mechanical phenomena and/or the related thermal and mechanical aspects that limit the performances of the device of interest, as well as multi-physics and combined-simulation models that aim to jointly investigate different phenomena and time scales. Models can range from analytical expressions focused on the main phenomena to implementations of numerical algorithms for more accurate mid-level and mid-burden investigations, up to detailed computationally intensive simulations using FEM/BEM for in-depth analyses and validation.

Analytical and numerical techniques for design optimization and validation are of interest as well, considering both mains-supply and converter-supply scenarios with different possible targets, such as performances, power or torque/force density, voltage or torque/force ripple, efficiency/losses, operation flexibility, etc.

The presentation of optimized machines designed by properly applying the proposed advanced methods is encouraged, as well as the comparison among different approaches aiming to single out the most effective ones, permitting one to reduce the overall computational burden and ultimately the time required for the whole design and validation process.

Dr. Paolo Bolognesi
Dr. Mario Mezzarobba
Guest Editors

• electric machines and electromechanical devices
• rotary, linear, multi-degree-of-freedom, bearingless etc.
• synchronous, induction, PM, switched reluctance, homopolar etc.
• theory, implementation and utilization of advanced models
• electromagnetic, thermal, mechanical, control aspects
• co-simulation and combined/multiphysics analysis
• advanced criteria and methods for effective design
• design validation methods
• significant examples of optimized design