Design of High-Speed/High-Power PM Synchronous Machines for an Adiabatic Compressed Air Storage System

This paper presents the design of NdFeB-based high-speed/high-power surface-mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSMs) for an Adiabatic Compressed Air Storage system (ACAES). A preliminary PMSM configuration is presented at first, which aims at complying with all electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal constraints, by guaranteeing the specifications and target imposed by ACAES. Subsequently, due to limited maximum speed and weak flexibility, a second modular PMSM configuration is proposed, which consists of identical PMSMs mechanically series-connected. In this way, all PMSMs share the same mechanical speed and contribute to the high overall power required by ACAES, ensuring higher maximum speed and flexibility compared to the first configuration. The modular PMSM configuration is validated through extensive finite element analyses, also in comparison with the first PMSM configuration in terms of performance, efficiency and losses.