A Review on Magnetic Gears: Topologies, Computational Models, and Design Aspects

Geared devices are commonly used to match the operating speed and torque of the power source with the second mover. Such geared devices are usually mechanical gears. As counterparts of the conventional mechanical gears, magnetic gears (MGs) are becoming promising devices, mainly due to the merits of physical isolation between moving parts, no gear lubrication, no mechanical fatigue, inherent overload protection and reduced maintenance, etc. Recently, several new topologies have been proposed to achieve better performances. In this paper, a general review of MGs is presented, including a discussion of the most common and upcoming topologies and a description of the working principle. A comparison of different topologies is carried out in terms of gear ratio and torque density. The main computational techniques generally adopted for coaxial MGs are listed and described. Some key aspects concerning the design, the existed challenges, and potential applications are also discussed. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the MG for readers working in this field.