Magnetic stability of low corrective force PM in series hybrid magnet memory machine under inverter open-circuit fault

Variable flux memory machine (VFMM) can dynamically adjust its air-gap magnetic field by changing the magnetization states of the employed low corrective force (LCF) permanent magnets (PMs). Due to the demagnetization risk of LCF PMs under armature current, it is necessary to analyze their magnetic stability in various operation states. The magnetic stability of LCF PMs in series hybrid magnet VFMM (SHM-VFMM) under inverter open-circuit (IOC) fault is studied in this article. Firstly, the topology of the investigated SHM-VFMM is introduced, and the field-circuit coupled model of the machine under IOC fault is established. Then, the magnetic stabilities of LCF PMs during the normal and fault operations are analyzed and compared by using the finite element method. The effects of LCF PM demagnetization and fault current on torque are also studied. Afterward, the influence mechanism of the fault armature magnetomotive force (MMF) on LCF PM demagnetization is revealed by using the synthetic MMF graphic method. Finally, the main factor affecting the LCF PM demagnetization under IOC fault is highlighted and an effective method for recovering the magnetic stability of LCF PM is proposed.