Application of Amorphous Cores to DC-excited Flux-modulated Motors Used for Electric Vehicles

The amorphous material has been used in high-efficient transformers for decades. Its low core losses and high relative permeability have been proved. However, due to its high harness and poor machining ability, its application in electric machines is still in research stage. In addition, its relatively low saturation flux density limits the torque density of the motors. This paper proposes to employ the amorphous material to a DC-excited flux-modulated motor to decrease the core losses and increase the efficiency of the motor. The high relative permeability of the amorphous material helps to reduce the field current. Meanwhile, the low core losses of the amorphous material decrease the core losses of the motor which are dominant in flux-modulated motors due to their operation principle. To study the feasibility of the proposal, the performances of the motors made of amorphous and silicon steel core materials are compared.