Optimisation procedure for designing a magnetic gear

Magnetic gears (MGs) are increasingly viewed as an attractive alternative to traditional mechanical gears due to the potential for reduced operation and maintenance requirements resulting from contactless torque transfer and the associated reduction in mechanical wear. MGs have multiple interdependent parameters which effect the final torque capabilities of a design and therefore new design processes must be developed such that optimal designs can be realised. This study applies the genetic algorithm optimisation approach to MG design and examines its effectiveness. While achieving a high torque target of 250±5% kN m with a gear ratio of between 7.25 and 7.75:1 the process minimises the amount of required high cost permanent magnet material by over 53% from the initial design.