Conception of an air-gap element for the dynamic analysis of the electromagnetic field in electric machines

In the design of electric machine working under unbalanced conditions or supplied by non sinusoidal current, a detailed knowledge of the magnetic field distribution is required to predict the machine performance. Under such conditions this field distribution must be calculated using a dynamic model for the machine air-gap: A particular element constituted by the uniform part of the air-gap (u.p.a.g.) allows such a dynamic model in the present paper. An analytical solution of the Laplace equation in the air-gap is done. The field distribution in a saturated machine can be obtained within this air-gap model, combined with the classical finite element solution. The results of field calculation obtained using such a method are more precise than those calculated when modelling the air-gap with classical elements. Examples are given in the paper, showing this fact for both the cases of static and dynamic calculations.