A Proposal of Ultra-Flat Axial Gap Motor Employing C-type SMC Core

In recent years, permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are used for many applications because of their high output density and high efficiency. On the other hand, PMSMs having low aspect ratio like flat disk are desired depending on applications. In general, PMSMs employ radial gap structure which has the air gap in radial direction. However, in flat shape, radial gap motors have relatively low torque because their effective surface area of permanent magnet (PM) is small and their coil ends occupy most of the motor volume. Therefore, in flat shape, axial gap structure which has the air gap in axial direction is frequently employed instead of radial gap motors. Since axial gap motors don't have the coil ends in axial direction, they can reduce axial length. Meanwhile, conventional axial gap motors frequently employ double stator structure. Hence, in flatter shape like `ultra-flat shape', conventional axial gap motors are not suitable because stator back yoke and PM become extremely thin. Instead of those, an axial gap motor employing C-type SMC core is proposed in this paper. Advantages of the proposed axial gap motor using C-type core in ultra-flat shape is illustrated, and then, the proposed motor is analyzed by three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA).