Magnax recently finished the first production prototype of the axial flux direct-drive machine (permanent magnet) which will be used in the new generation of wind turbines and electric machinery.Here the machine is tested on the Lemcko Testbench.
To give you an idea; for the same power and torque, a 100kW axial flux machine weighs only 850 kg while a traditional direct-drive machine weighs about 4000 kg.
Besides the weight advantage, the axial flux technology brings other advantages such as a much more compact size, high efficiency (up to 98% for larger sizes), very high reliability, easy to scale while the production cost stays low.
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Furthermore, thanks to the axial flux design, very little copper is wasted on overhanging loops on the windings. The motors have zero overhang; that is, 100% of the windings are active.
