Analytical Modeling of a Double-Rotor Multiwinding Machine for Hybrid Aircraft Propulsion

In this article, a new double-rotor multiwinding machine (DRMWM) that utilizes the flux modulation principle is proposed for propulsion system of hybrid electric aircrafts (HEAs). First, the operation principle of DRMWMs and the corresponding HEA propulsion configuration are introduced, where different operation modes of two rotors and three sets of windings of DRMWMs to cope with various flight tasks of HEAs are elucidated. Then, an improved subdomain method is utilized to solve the magnetic field distribution of DRMWMs with the consideration of saturation effect of soft-magnetic material (SMM). Finally, a prototype is manufactured to verify the effectiveness of the proposed improved subdomain method in predicting the electromagnetic performances of DRMWMs. The experiment shows that the DRMWM is a good candidate to be applied in HEA with different operation modes.