Low-Cost Dual-Mechanical-Port Dual-Excitation Machine for Washing Machine Application

Abstract

This paper proposes a low-cost dual-mechanical-port dual-excitation machine for washing machine application. The proposed machine artfully combines two machines (vernier and permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM)). An outer vernier rotor is used for the low-speed washing operations, and an inner PMSM rotor is used for the high-speed drying operations of the washing machine. The proposed machine is compared with a similar recently presented machine to verify its cost-effectiveness. Comparison using the finite element analysis (FEA) shows that the ferrite magnets used in the proposed topology are more cost-effective. Furthermore, compared to the existing machine, the power factor of the proposed machine is high during the drying operation; hence, a lower rating inverter is sufficient to drive the machine, which further reduces the overall cost. In addition, the proposed machine provides similar efficiencies as the existing machine for both washing and drying operations.