One of the main challenges in order to make electric cars competitive with gas-powered cars is in the improvement of the electric power system. Although many of the energy sources currently used in electric vehicles have sufficientlyhigh specific energy, their applicability is limited due to low specific power. It would therefore be advantageous to create a driveline with the main energy storage separated from a smaller energy buffer, designed to have high power capabilities and to withstand frequent and deep discharge cycles. It has been found that rotating kinetic energy storage in flywheels is very well suited for this type of application.

A composite shell, comprising an inner part made of glassfiber and an outer part made of carbonfiber, was analyzed analytically and numerically, designed, and constructed. The shell was fitted onto a metallic rotor using shrinkfitting. The cost of the shell, and the complexity of assembly, was reduced by winding the glass- and carbonfiber consecutively on a mandrel, and curing the complete assembly simultaneously. Thereby, the shell obtained an internal segmentation, without the need for fitting several concentric parts onto each other. The radial stress inside the composite shell was kept compressive thanks to a novel approach of using the permanent magnets of the integrated electric machine to provide radial mechanical load during rotation.

Two thrust bearing units (one upper and one lower) comprising one segmented unit with the permanent magnets in a cylindrical Halbach configuration and one non-segmented unit in a up/down configuration were optimized, constructed and tested. Each thrust bearing unit generated 1040 N of repelling force, and a positive axial stiffness of 169 N/mm at the nominal airgap of 5 mm. 

Two radial active magnetic bearings (one upper and one lower) were optimized, constructed and tested. By parameterizing the shape of the actuators, a numerical optimization of force over resistive loss from the bias currentcould be performed. The optimized shape of the electromagnets was produced by watercutting sheets of laminated steel. A maximum current stiffness of120 N/A at a bias current of 1.5 A was achieved.

One of the main challenges in order to make electric cars competitive with gaspowered cars is in the improvement of the electric power system. Although many of the energy sources currently used in electric vehicles have sufficiently high specific energy, their applicability is limited due to low specific power. It would therefore be advantageous to create a driveline with the main energy storage separated from a smaller energy buffer, designed to have high power capabilities and to withstand frequent and deep discharge cycles. It has been found that rotating kinetic energy storage in flywheels is very well suited for this type of application. The work presented in this thesis and the included papers span a number of topcis Introductory overview - This section explains the concept of the modern flywheel, and investigates some of its properties. It illustrates the concepts with a number of examples, relevant for the usage of flywheels in vehicular applications. Experimental set-up - The construction of a complete electric driveline is ongoing within the division for Electricity at Uppsala University. An optimized electric machine has been constructed and connected with a programmable load, as well as with a DC power source through power electronics controlled by PWM. As a part of this system, an experimental set-up of an active magnetic bearing for two degrees-of-freedom has been constructed. The work with this device is described in detail and some preliminary results are presented. Self-bearing machine - The electric machine developed for the existing driveline is coreless, double wound and with a double rotor. In order to achieve magnetic bearing functionality in this device for all DOF, a novel Lorentz force self-bearing machine is suggested. The design is analyzed analytically and numerically.

The rotating Kinetic Energy Storage System (KESS) is suitable as temporary energy storage in electric vehicles due to its insensitivity to the number of charge-discharge cycles and its relatively high specific energy. The size and weight of the KESS for a given amount of stored energy are minimized by decreasing the moment of inertia of the rotor and increasing its speed. A small and fast rotor has the additional benefit of reducing the induced gyroscopic moments as the vehicle turns. The very high resulting rotational speed makes the magnetic bearing an essential component of the system, with the Active Magnetic Bearing (AMB) being the most common implementation. The complexity and cost of an AMB can be reduced by integration with the electric machine, resulting in a bearingless and sensorless electric machine. This review article describes the usage of magnetic bearings for FESS in vehicular applications.

This paper presents the ongoing work of constructing a complete driveline for an electric road vehicle, using a flywheel as auxiliary energy storage. The flywheel energy storage system (FESS) is connected in series between the main energy storage (batteries) and the wheel motor of the vehicle, allowing the batteries to deliver power to the system in an optimized way, while at the same time making efficient use of regenerative braking. A double wound permanent magnet electric machine is used to electrically separate the two sides. In order to minimize losses, the machine has a double rotor configuration and is suspended with magnetic bearings. A bench test set-up is being constructed to investigate the properties of this system in detail. This set-up will achieve a level of power and energy close to that of a full scale system. This will allow measurements of complete drive cycles to be performed, improving the understanding of the constituting components and optimization of the complete system.

This paper presents experimental results on an innovative electric driveline employing a kinetic energy storage device as energy buffer. A conceptual division of losses in the system was created, separating the complete system into three parts according to their function. This conceptualization of the system yielded a meaningful definition of the concept of efficiency. Additionally, a thorough theoretical framework for the prediction of losses associated with energy storage and transfer in the system was developed. A large number of spin-down tests at varying pressure levels were performed. A separation of the measured data into the different physical processes responsible for power loss was achieved from the corresponding dependence on rotational velocity. This comparison yielded an estimate of the perpendicular resistivity of the stranded copper conductor of 2.5 x 10(-8) +/- 3.5 x 10(-9). Further, power and energy were measured system-wide during operation, and an analysis of the losses was performed. The analytical solution was able to reproduce the measured distribution of losses in the system to an accuracy of 4.7% (95% CI). It was found that the losses attributed to the function of kinetic energy storage in the system amounted to between 45% and 65%, depending on usage.

This paper presents the design and optimization of a high-speed (30 000 r/min) kinetic energy storage system. The purpose of the device is to function as an energy buffer storing up to 867 Wh, primarily for utility vehicles in urban traffic. The rotor comprises a solid composite shell of carbon and glass fibers in an epoxy matrix, constructed in one curing. The shell is optimized using a combined analytical and numerical approach. The radial stress in the shell is kept compressive by integrating the electric machine, thereby avoiding delamination. Radial centering is achieved through eight active electromagnetic actuators. The actuator geometry is optimized using a direct coupling between SolidWorks, Comsol, and Matlab for maximum force over resistive loss for a given current density. The optimization results in a system with 300% higher current stiffness than the reference geometry with constant flux area, at the expense of 33% higher power loss. The actuators are driven by semipassive H bridges and controlled by an FPGA. Current control at 20 kHz with a noise of less than 5 mA (95% CI) is achieved, allowing position control at 4 kHz to be implemented.

Brushless dc coreless electric machines with double-rotor and single-stator configuration have very low losses, since the return path of the magnetic flux rotates with the permanent magnets. The eddy-current loss in the stator is additionally very small due to the lack of iron, making it ideal for kinetic energy storage. This paper presents a design for self-bearing rotor suspension, achieved by placing the stator windings skewed on a conical surface. A mathematical analysis of the force from a skewed winding confined to the surface of a cone was found. The parametric analytical expressions of the magnitude and direction of force and torque were verified by finite-element method simulations for one specific geometry. A dynamic model using proportional-integral-differential control was implemented in MATLAB/Simulink, and the currents needed for the self-bearing effect were found by solving an underdetermined system of linear equations. External forces, calculated from acceleration measurements from a bus in urban traffic, were added to simulate the dynamic environment of an electrical vehicle.

The working principle of the wave energy converter (WEC) developed at Uppsala University (UU) is based on a heaving point absorber with a linear generator. The generator is placed on the seafloor and is connected via a steel wire to a buoy floating on the surface of the sea. The generator produces optimal power when the translator's oscillations are centered with respect to the stator. However, due to the tides or other changes in sea level, the translator's oscillations may shift towards the upper or lower limit of the generator's stroke length, resulting in a limited stroke and a consequent reduction in power production. A compensator has been designed and developed in order to keep the generator's translator centered, thus compensating for sea level variations. This paper presents experimental tests of the compensator in a lab environment. The wire adjustments are based on online sea level data obtained from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). The objective of the study was to evaluate and optimize the control and communication system of the device. As the device will be self-powered with solar and wave energy, the paper also includes estimations of the power consumption and a control strategy to minimize the energy requirements of the whole system. The application of the device in a location with high tides, such as Wave Hub, was analyzed based on offline tidal data. The results show that the compensator can minimize the negative effects of sea level variations on the power production at the WEC. Although the wave energy concept of UU is used in this study, the developed system is also applicable to other WECs for which the line length between seabed and surface needs to be adjusted.

This paper presents two wave energy concepts for small-scale electricity generation. In the presented case, these concepts are installed on the buoy of a heaving, point-absorbing wave energy converter (WEC) for large scale electricity production. In the studied WEC, developed by Uppsala University, small-scale electricity generation in the buoy is needed to power a tidal compensating system designed to increase the performance of the WEC in areas with high tides. The two considered and modeled concepts are an oscillating water column (OWC) and a heaving point absorber. The results indicate that the OWC is too small for the task and does not produce enough energy. On the other hand, the results show that a hybrid system composed of a small heaving point absorber combined with a solar energy system would be able to provide a requested minimum power of around 37.7W on average year around. The WEC and solar panel complement each other, as the WEC produces enough energy by itself during wintertime (but not in the summer), while the solar panel produces enough energy in the summer (but not in the winter).

The power production of the linear generator wave energy converter developed at Uppsala University is affected by variations of mean sea level. The reason is that these variations change the distance between the point absorber located on the surface and the linear generator located on the seabed. This shifts the average position of the translator with respect to the center of the stator, thereby reducing the generator output power. A device mounted on the point absorber that compensates for tides of small range by regulating the length of the connection line between the buoy at the surface and the linear generator has been constructed and tested. This paper describes the electro-mechanical, measurement, communication and control systems installed on the buoy and shows the results obtained before its connection to the generator. The adjustment of the line was achieved through a linear actuator, which shortens the line during low tides and vice versa. The motor that drives the mechanical device was activated remotely via SMS. The measurement system that was mounted on the buoy consisted of current and voltage sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges and inductive and laser sensors. The data collected were transferred via Internet to a Dropbox server. As described within the paper, after the calibration of the sensors, the buoy was assembled and tested in the waters of Lysekil harbor, a few kilometers from the Uppsala University research site. Moreover, the performance of the sensors, the motion of the mechanical device, the power consumption, the current control strategy and the communication system are discussed.

A permanent magnet linear generator for direct drive wave energy converters is a suitable power take-off system for ocean wave energy extraction, especially when coupled with a point absorbing buoy via a connection line. The performance of the linear generator is affected by the excursion of the translator along the stator. The optimal stroke is achieved when the midpoint of the oscillations coincides with the center of the stator. However, sea level changes due to, e.g., tides will shift these oscillations. This paper proposes a model able to detect the position of the translator from the generator output voltage. The algorithm will be integrated in the control system of a mechanical device that adjusts the length of the connection line in order to center the average position of the translator with the center of the stator. Thereby, the output power from the wave energy converter increases, and the mechanical stresses on the hull of the generator decrease. The results obtained by the model show good agreement with the experimental results from two linear generators, L2 and L3, deployed in the Lysekil wave energy research site, Sweden. The theoretical results differ from the experimental results by −4 mm for L2 and 21 mm for L3 with a standard deviation of 27 mm and 31 mm, respectively.

A driveline for electric vehicles is presented. The propulsion system is operated at a higher voltage than the primary energy source. The batteries selected as the primary energy source deliver power to the vehicle through a motor-generator wounded with two electrically isolated sets of windings, named Two Voltage Level Machine (TVLM). The dynamic behaviour of a vehicle operating according to a standard drive cycle is studied. Parameters of the driveline such as power rates and size of the flywheel are obtained by optimization. A description of the performance of a TVLM is also presented through its equivalent circuit and the control of the machine. Special attention to the system losses is presented. A scale prototype has been constructed and tested under a drive cycle, demonstrating the system performance of the system.

In this paper, the design criteria and an extensive losses analysis of a novel High-Speed Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (HS-PMSM) is presented. The proposed machine topology has been designed for a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) with the aim of optimizing the integration between the flywheel and the HS-PMSM rotor, minimizing the overall losses at the same time. Thus, the conceptual design and sizing criteria of the FESS are introduced at first. Furthermore, a double HS-PMSM is designed, whose main specifications are presented and discussed. Subsequently, HS-PMSM standby and load losses arc determined by an extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) through the JMAG software package. Numerical simulations allow the identification of HS-PMSM losses over different operating conditions, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.

The paper presents an accurate efficiency assessment of a novel Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM) to be employed in a High-Speed Flywheel Energy Storage System (HS-FESS). Particularly, the proposed machine configuration aims to minimize core losses by reducing the overall amount of steel. In this regard, some of the specific design solutions adopted are introduced and briefly discussed. Much more details are given on PMSM core losses estimation, which is carried out through an extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) by means of JMAG. The FEA results allow the definition of a suitable lumped-parameter electrical model of the proposed PMSM, based on which a detailed PMSM efficiency assessment can be achieved. This is particularly important for identifying the most suitable PMSM operating speed range, within which the overall HS-FESS performance can be optimized.

In this paper, a method to control the harmonic content of the magnetic flux density in the airgap of a synchronous machine is presented. Voltage harmonics in one phase as well as the exciting magnetic forces can be affected. Switched power electronics were used to provide the field current to a synchronous machine, the control added specific current harmonics to the DC field current in order to minimize either voltage harmonics or magnetic forces. The method is verified and compared with simulations and experiments on an existing electrical machine.

A magnetization system with active compensation of unbalanced magnetic pull for synchronous machines with rotating exciters is demonstrated. The system used switched power electronics and a digital control system to control the currents in four rotor pole groups, each consisting of 3 poles. It was mounted on the shaft of a synchronous machine, providing an interface between a permanent magnet outer-pole brushless exciter and the segmented field winding. Measurements of magnetic flux density on each pole face and current control made it possible to control the airgap magnetic flux density to balance the machine magnetically, thus removing flux density space harmonics in the airgap and also the unbalanced magnetic pull. The construction of the system is presented along with results from experiments and simulations. Tests were performed with the stator winding both in series and with two parallel circuits. Approximately 80% reduction of static forces and 60% reduction of dynamic forces between the stator and rotor were observed when the system was running.

The article proposes a model of a salient pole synchronous machine field winding based on a single transmission line model. An experimental method to derive the parameters is also presented and validated. Finally, the measured voltage distribution in the winding is compared to the model voltage distribution and the results match, demonstrating the model capabilities. The model describes the intrinsic resonance phenomena and accurately determines the voltage amplification factor.

Herein, a set of experimental procedures is presented for determining the main electrical distributed parameters of the field winding in salient pole synchronous machines. It applies to the electrical characterisation of iron-core power inductors and transformer windings as well, in a range of frequency useful for power electronics applications. A first estimation of the parameters is obtained by forcing the winding into resonance with capacitors of known capacitance. The obtained estimates are then refined through an iterative process, which makes use of the winding natural frequencies. The presented procedures are applied step-by-step to the field winding of a 60-kVA salient pole synchronous generator with solid poles. The distributed parameters model, featured using the outlined procedures, accurately reproduces the winding voltage distribution in a large range of frequency. Finally, it is explored how the interaction between armature and rotor influences the field winding parameters, pointing to the differences of measuring them with the rotor inside or outside the machine bore.

This work investigates the establishment of steady-state eddy currents in solid and laminated salient poles and rotor rim of synchronous machines due to a periodic excitation voltage. It shows that the presence of eddy currents in the rotor magnetic circuit has the double effect of increasing the excitation winding AC-resistance and decreasing its magnetizing AC-inductance. According to that a simple analytical model is presented in here which allows a rapid rough estimation of the excitation winding AC-resistance when little information is available about the machine geometry and its electric/magnetic materials properties. The model is then verified by reproducing in frequency the excitation winding AC-resistance and the related power loss measured in two synchronous generators. Finally, the limits of reliability and applicability of the model are discussed. The model has implications for periodic field winding current control and voltage regulation in synchronous machines.

Two types of passive magnetic lift bearings were evaluated in terms of thrust force and eddy current losses. The first type of bearings were based on two sets of segmented Halbach arrays mounted in repulsive mode, and the second type was based on ring-magnets. The eddy-currents studied arose in the bearing due to manufacturing variations of magnetic remanence, and due to non-radial magnetization. Both a 3D time-dependent and a quasi-stationary Finite-Element Method (FEM) formulation were used, and the simulated results were compared with lift-force measurements from experiment. The losses were found (by FEM) to be in the order of 25 W at a rotational speed of 30000 rpm while lifting a 45 kg rotor with a stiffness of 359 N/mm.

A hollow cylinder flywheel rotor with a novel outer rotor switched reluctance machine (SRM) mounted on the interior rim is presented, with measurements, numerical analysis and analytical models. Practical experiences from the construction process are also discussed. The flywheel rotor does not have a shaft and spokes and is predicted to store 181 Wh/kg at ultimate tensile strength (UTS) according to simulations. The novel SRM is an axial flux machine, chosen due to its robustness and tolerance for high strain. The computed maximum tip speed of the motor at UTS is 1050 m/s . A small-scale proof-of-concept electric machine prototype has been constructed, and the machine inductance has been estimated from measurements of voltage and current and compared against results from analytical models and finite element analysis (FEA). The prototype measurements were used to simulate operation during maximal speed for a comparison towards other high-speed electric machines, in terms of tip speed and power. The mechanical design of the flywheel was performed with an analytical formulation assuming planar stress in concentric shells of orthotropic (unidirectionally circumferentially wound) carbon composites. The analytical approach was verified with 3D FEA in terms of stress and strain.

A review of flywheel energy storage technology was made, with a special focus on the progress in automotive applications. We found that there are at least 26 university research groups and 27 companies contributing to flywheel technology development. Flywheels are seen to excel in high-power applications, placing them closer in functionality to supercapacitors than to batteries. Examples of flywheels optimized for vehicular applications were found with a specific power of 5.5 kW/kg and a specific energy of 3.5 Wh/kg. Another flywheel system had 3.15 kW/kg and 6.4 Wh/kg, which can be compared to a state-of-the-art supercapacitor vehicular system with 1.7 kW/kg and 2.3 Wh/kg, respectively. Flywheel energy storage is reaching maturity, with 500 flywheel power buffer systems being deployed for London buses (resulting in fuel savings of over 20%), 400 flywheels in operation for grid frequency regulation and many hundreds more installed for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) applications. The industry estimates the mass-production cost of a specific consumer-car flywheel system to be 2000 USD. For regular cars, this system has been shown to save 35% fuel in the U.S. Federal Test Procedure (FTP) drive cycle.

A low-cost method, which integrates distance sensing functionality into a switched electromagnet by using a hybrid switching mode and current ripple measurements, is proposed. The electromagnet is controlled by a micro-controller via a MOSFET H bridge, utilizing a comparator-based current control. Additionally, a method for calculating the inductance of the electromagnet and approximating the magnetic contact between the electromagnet and its target is also presented. The resulting tool is attached to an industrial robot, and the system performance using this setup is evaluated. Distance sensing in the range of 0 mm to 5.2 mm is demonstrated. It is also shown that the relation between magnetic contact, coil current and calculated inductance can be reduced to a predictive look-up table, enabling the quality of the magnetic contact to be estimated using minimal computational effort.

Recent technological developments have caused a renewed interest in the brushless excitation system. With the application of wireless communication, the conventional diode bridge has been replaced with fully controllable thyristors on the shaft. It offers the same dynamic performance as the conventional static excitation system. The thyristor bridge of the conventional three-phase exciter needs to be controlled with a high firing angle in normal operation in order to fulfill a requirement of both a high ceiling voltage and a high ceiling current. A high firing angle causes high torque ripple to be absorbed by the exciter stator and a low power factor results in a low utilization of the designed exciter. In this contribution, we present a strategy that solves this problem by looking into combinations of thyristor configurations of a double-star six-phase connection of the exciter. Experimental results are used to verify the circuit models implemented for this investigation. A hybrid-mode 12-pulse thyristor bridge configuration seems to be a good solution for implementations in commercial apparatus. An additional switch interconnects two separate thyristor bridges from parallel- to series connection at the rectifier output, and utilizes the advantages of both topologies.

Synchronous motors are hard to line start due to torque pulsations at zero rotor speed and low starting torque when started using induced current in a damper squirrel cage. By inverting the rotor pole polarity at appropriate times it is possible to, in principle, achieve uniform torque, albeit pulsating with twice the line frequency at zero initial rotor speed. This has been demonstrated in an earlier work. In this paper we demonstrate that high torque starting using the back-emf in the field winding as triggering signal for the rotor polarity inversion is possible. We further discuss the origin of the rotational energy and active and reactive power pulsations. Finally, we show that it is possible to operate a synchronous motors at continuous asynchronous speed by inverting the polarity of the rotor current and adjusting the field current accordingly, although down rated.

Generally, PM machines are used as PMG pre-exciters in 3-stage brushless excitations systems. This paperpresents the design, characterization and prototyping of a rotatingbrushless PM exciter used in a proposed 2-stage excitation systemfor a synchronous generator. The proposed design reduces thenumber of components compared with conventional systems.A comparison with the state-of-the-art conventional excitationsystems is given. The design of a fast-response, or high initialresponse, brushless exciter requires active rectification on therotating frame, replacing the non-controllable diode bridge. Theobjective was to construct an exciter with the capability of a50 Aoutput field current as well as a high value of the available ceilingvoltage and ceiling current. The final exciter was constructed to befitted into an in-house synchronous generator test setup. A finiteelement model of the exciter was validated with experimentalmeasurements. The exciter prototype is also compared with analternative armature design with non-overlapping single-layerconcentrated windings but with the same main dimensions.The paper includes a general design procedure suitable foroptimization of PM brushless exciters that fulfill the requirementsof their synchronous generators and the grid.

This paper deals with the characterization and construction of a rotating brushless PM exciter intended for synchronous generator excitation purposes. Traditionally, PM exciters are used as pre-exciters in synchronous generator excitations systems. In order to reduce the number of components and to increase the step time response of the system, a PM exciter is designed as an outer pole PM machine, with permanent magnets on the stator and armature windings on the rotor. The exciter was constructed electrically and mechanically to be fitted into an in-house synchronous generator test setup. A finite element model of the exciter was validated with no-load measurements of voltages and magnetic flux densities. The exciter was then characterized with unsaturated and saturated parameters.

his paper investigates the performance of different power electronic interfaces for a rotating brushless permanent magnet exciter, designed for a synchronous generator test setup. A passive rotating diode bridge is commonly used as the rotating interface on conventional brushless excitation systems. Those systems are known to be slow dynamically, since they cannot control the generator field voltage directly. Including active switching components on the rotating shaft, like thyristors or transistors, brushless excitation systems can be comparable to static excitation systems. Brushless excitation systems has the benefit of less regular maintenance. With permanent magnets on the stator of the designed exciter, the excitation system improves its field forcing capability. Results show that modern power electronic interfaces utilize the exciter machine optimally, increase the power factor, reduce the torque pulsations, maintain the available field winding ceiling voltage and improve the field winding controllability.

The static exciter is dominating among large grid-connected generators due to the weak dynamic performance of conventional brushless exciters. In this paper, a six-phase outer pole permanent magnet rotating brushless exciter is evaluated with different active rectification topologies. Both thyristor-based and chopper-based topologies are considered. A fast-response brushless excitation system is obtained by replacing the conventional rotating diode bridge rectifier with the proposed active rectification topologies on the shaft. The given two-stage system generates its own excitation power directly from the shaft, contrary to static exciters. The selection of an appropriate rectification topology could minimize the rotor armature phase currents for a given generator field current. The objective is a high power factor and a high utilization of the exciter machine. An optimal rectification topology makes higher ceiling currents possible, improving the transient behavior of the synchronous generator. In this paper we show that six-phase topologies add complexity, but improve exciter redundancy, increase the available ceiling voltage and reduce the steady state torque ripple. Experimental results are given for validating the models implemented for the analysis.

Synchronous motors are reliable and efficient, but it is relatively difficult to start them. In some cases, a variable frequency drive is utilized. In some other, asynchronous start is achieved by virtue of induced currents in a solid rotor, or a rotor damper cage installed for this purpose. In this contribution, a method to start a synchronous machine without a damper cage is presented. The starting was achieved by inverting the polarity of the rotor field winding in a timely manner with respect to the rotating stator field. The technique was verified with experiments performed on a 200 kVA experimental test rig and also simulated on a 20 MVA machine.

Unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) is typically caused by rotor or stator shape defects, electrical short circuits, eccentric rotor/stator bores, as well as unreasonable pole-slot combinations. It leads to vibration and increases noise and energy losses of the machine. By actively controlling the magnetic fields and forces that arise between the rotor and stator by regulating the rotor field current of separated pole groups, it is possible to cancel it. In this paper, we measure and calculate the currents induced in the damper bars for a synchronous machine test rig under 20% static eccentricity with and without active compensation of UMP. This is done to validate our finite-element calculations. Afterward, we perform loss calculations for a 74-MVA synchronous generator with and without stator parallel circuits. We find that, with active compensation of UMP for an eccentric machine, the damper bar currents and stator parallel circuit circulating currents can be eliminated and the electromagnetic efficiency of the machine that has a static eccentricity fault increases.

Permanent magnets are an attractive material to be utilized in thrust bearings as they offer relatively low losses. If utilized properly, they have a long service lifetime and are virtually maintenance free. In this contribution, we communicate the results of the tests performed on a permanent magnet thrust bearing that was custom built and installed in a hydropower synchronous generator test-rig. Tridimensional finite element simulations were performed and compared with measurements of axial force. Spin down times and axial force ripple have also been measured. We found good correspondence between the measurements and the simulations.