Parameter Measurements and Modeling of a Novel Hybrid Variable Flux Machine with Series Rare-Earth and AlNiCo Magnets

High accuracy machine emulations require a highly accurate behavioral model of an electric machine. This paper present the parameter measurements of a novel hybrid variable flux Machine (VFM) with series rare-earth and AlNiCo magnets. A current control based method is used to measure the machine flux linkages and inductances including cross-saturation at different magnetization states. The same current controller is used to obtain the magnetization and demagnetization characteristics of the test VFM. Based on the experimentally measured magnetization curves and flux linkages, a look-up table based model of the prototyped VFM is built in MATLAB Simulink considering the conditions that affect the magnetization state, which is useful for machine emulation applications. The developed model is validated with the experimental test results for steady state and transient operations.