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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Cost Effective 6.5% Silicon Steel Laminate for Electric Machines

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1749947· OSTI ID:1749947

Iowa State University teamed with United Technologies Research Center and the University of Delaware and demonstrated a high switching frequency non-rare earth permanent magnet motor. A prototype motor with 400 Hz switching frequency, dummy MnBi permanent magnet with 8 MGOe energy density, and 6.5%Si steel as the laminate materials was designed, built, and tested. The performance of the prototype met the expectations showing a higher frequency motor enabled by 6.5%Si steel is a viable approach to meet DOE 2022 cost and performance targets for electric vehicle drive. Adoption of 6.5%Si steel will result in 3% improvement in energy conversion efficiency of the soft magnetic materials. In addition, the ability to use non-rare earth magnet for high power density application effectively mitigate the risk of EV traction motor from the rising rare earth price.

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO)
DOE Contract Number:
EE0007794
OSTI ID:
1749947
Report Number(s):
DOE-ISU-0007794
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English