Comparison of hybrid analytical modelling and reluctance network modelling for pre-design purposes

The aim of this paper is to compare two modelling approaches, used for the pre-design of electrical machines. A new hybrid analytical modelling (HAM) approach, based on a direct coupling of analytical solution of Maxwell's equations with reluctance networks (RN), is compared to mesh-based generated reluctance networks modelling, in terms of computation time and results quality. In order to assess the quality of results obtained from both models, both approaches are compared to finite element simulations. A permanent magnet linear structure is chosen as a case study. It is shown that the new hybrid analytical model allows to combine advantages of analytical and reluctance networks modelling. As compared to RN, the new approach helps reduce calculation time and gives good results. (C) 2016 International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (IMACS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.