Semi-Three-Dimensional Analytical Torque Calculation and Experimental Testing of an Eddy Current Brake With Permanent Magnets

Abstract

This paper presents torque analysis and testing of an eddy current brake with permanent magnets using semi-three-dimensional (3-D) analytical magnetic field calculations. The magnetic field solutions are obtained by considering the eddy current reaction using a 2-D magnetic vector potential and 3-D case by a simple and effective axial dependence modeling. The magnetic torque is also determined from these solutions. A finite-element method (FEM) is employed to validate the analytical magnetic calculations. The braking torque measurement is experimentally verified to validate the analytical study. From the experimental study, we obtain analytical and 3-D FEM results of braking torque with thermal behavior, and these are in good agreement with the experimental results.