Computational Modeling of an Axial Airgap Induction Motor With a Solid Rotor

This article presents analytical calculations of an axial airgap or disk induction machine with a solid rotor. A quasi-3-D analytical analysis for the eddy current estimation in the solid disk rotor and 1-D and 2-D analytical analyses for the torque calculation are performed. The third-dimension effect in 1-D and 2-D analytical analyses is estimated by quasi-3-D analytical calculations of the eddy currents in the solid disk rotor. The analytical calculations are compared with the 3-D finite element method (FEM) and experimental results of a solid-rotor axial airgap induction motor. The analytical calculations are also used for the optimization of the axial airgap machine to improve torque characteristics at higher speeds.