Simplified model of eddy current brakes and its use for optimization

Abstract

The electrification of vehicles makes it possible to think about new concepts to substitute conventional technologies. For example in an electrical drive train, with a traction motor for each wheel mechanical friction brakes can be replaced by eddy current brakes. In this work a method for optimizing the torque density of eddy current brakes is presented. For a fast optimization process the model of the eddy current brake is split up in two levels of detail. In the first level a global model including a simplified eddy current model and a lumped parameter magnetic circuit to calculate the primary magnetic flux will be described. The second level includes a detailed eddy current model and will be described in further works. The simplified eddy current model include fitting parameters which allow to fit the torque curves to the ones of the detailed eddy current model. As a result, the method allows to optimize the entire system represented by the global model in a very fast way. The development of the global model, its verification and the method for optimizing the entire system represented by the global model is shown.