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Principle, Modeling, and Testing of A Brushless Doubly-fed Machine with Flux Modulation Rotor for Aviation Propulsion

Liu, Rui
http://orcid.org/0009-0000-9258-2834
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1744681928864452

Abstract Details

2025, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Aviation electrification has become a key trend in the development of next-generation aircraft, driven by the growing demand for high power density, improved fuel efficiency, decarbonization, and quieter propulsion systems. In response, the concept of More Electric Aircraft (MEA) has emerged and been implemented in the aviation industry, with prominent examples including the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 and A380. These aircraft employ onboard power generation systems to supply electricity to various subsystems, such as the de-icing system, environmental control system, and engine starting system. The prevailing architecture typically uses an engine or turbine as the prime mover for electrical generators. As the shaft speed fluctuates during operation, there is increasing interest in high-speed, variable-frequency power generation systems. This dissertation focuses on a proposed brushless doubly-fed machine (BDFM) featuring a flux-guide rotor. This topology presents several advantages over traditional machine types: 1. It eliminates permanent magnets and brushes or slip rings, enhancing fault tolerance as well as mechanical and thermal robustness. 2. The output frequency remains constant regardless of shaft speed, which simplifies the drivetrain by removing bulky speed conversion components. 3. The rotor’s specialized design improves its mechanical performance for high-speed operation. 4. The presence of two independently measurable and controllable stator windings increases the degrees of freedom for advanced control strategies. Despite these merits, the low power factor behavior of BDFMs has received limited attention in the literature. As power factor is a critical indicator of machine efficiency, this research aims to explore the underlying causes of low power factor and its impact on the practical deployment of BDFMs. An analytical method is employed to derive the steady-state equivalent circuit of the prototype machine, facilitating a deeper investigation of its electromagnetic coupling capabilities. Several tests have been conducted to validate the equivalent circuit model and assess the machine’s performance under realistic conditions. The analysis reveals that the prototype exhibits inherent constraints that limit its efficiency, particularly due to the trade-off between leakage inductances in the two stator windings. The contributions of this work are twofold: it advances both the theoretical understanding and practical evaluation of the proposed BDFM topology, and it establishes a foundation for future research aimed at optimizing the design and enhancing the efficiency of such machines. This study not only enriches the body of knowledge on brushless doubly-fed electric machines but also offers valuable insights into the development of more efficient and robust flux modulation machines for high-performance applications.
Julia Zhang (Advisor)
Jin Wang (Committee Member)
Abhishek Gupta (Committee Member)
Mahesh Illindala (Committee Member)
Longya Xu (Committee Member)
Irina Artsimovitch (Committee Member)
159 p.
Electrical Engineering; Energy; Engineering
Aviation electrification, More Electric Aircraft, MEA, Brushless doubly-fed machine, flux modulation rotor, Brushless doubly-fed reluctance machine, electric machine design, wound rotor induction machine, power factor analysis, equivalent circuit modeling, leakage inductance analysis.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Liu, R. (2025). Principle, Modeling, and Testing of A Brushless Doubly-fed Machine with Flux Modulation Rotor for Aviation Propulsion [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1744681928864452

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Liu, Rui. Principle, Modeling, and Testing of A Brushless Doubly-fed Machine with Flux Modulation Rotor for Aviation Propulsion. 2025. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1744681928864452.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Liu, Rui. "Principle, Modeling, and Testing of A Brushless Doubly-fed Machine with Flux Modulation Rotor for Aviation Propulsion." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1744681928864452

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2025, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
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