High Torque Multi-Air Gap Electric Motors

SatCon Technology Corporation has developed a new configuration for the induction machine which offers higher torque densities and a more advantageous footprint for many applications. This configuration employs at least one rotor disc “sandwiched” between two end stators, but may be extended to include multiple rotor discs placed between multiple stators. In these machines axially-oriented flux traverses the entire length of the machine, crossing all the stator and rotor discs before reaching the return iron, present in the end stators only. SatCon has designed, manufactured and tested on axial gap induction motor, which developed 20 hp at 3600 rpm. This paper discusses the design and key test results.