ARTICLE IN PRESS

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 293 (2005) 685–689

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Concept of a new type of electric machines using ferrofluids

S. Engelmann, A. Nethe, Th. Scholz, H.-D. Stahlmann
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus, Lehrstuhl Theoretische Elektrotechnik und Prozessmodelle,
PO Box 101344, 03013 Cottbus, Germany
Available online 3 March 2005

Abstract

The rapid development of ferrofluids in recent times allows to improve electric machines with these materials. They
can be used to reduce the magnetic resistance in the airgap between the mutually moved magnet system in every motor,
especially the stator and the rotor in a rotating system. In particular, for slowly moving or rotating machines, they offer
a great advantage.
r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PACS: 41.20.Gz; 75.50.Mm

Keywords: Orthogonal expansion; Magnetostatics; Ferrofluid; Electric machines

1. Introduction electric machines by filling the fluid in the gap

between stator and rotor. Thus the magnetic
Magnetic fluids, which are a suspension of resistance of the airgap is reduced.
magnetic nano-particles in a carrier fluid, covered The very promising theoretical results for both
with a tensid layer to prevent clustering, have linear and rotating machines have to be proved by
super-paramagnetic properties. This high perme- experiments. Besides the pure amplification effect,
ability can be used in several applications, since many other effects are involved in running a real
the improvement in chemical technology during motor. Therefore, it is necessary to point out the
the last years provides fluids with high saturation limits and technological difficulties of this invention.
magnetization, relatively low viscosity and, above
all, long-term stability. One option of technical
application, which is treated in this paper, is the
force or torque amplification in linear or rotating 2. Construction of a ferrofluid supported linear
electric machine
Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 355 694139;
fax: +49 355 694137. In Fig. 1, the principle of measurement for flat
E-mail address: [email protected] (A. Nethe). magnet surfaces, representing a continuous electric

0304-8853/$ - see front matter r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jmmm.2005.02.044
 ARTICLE IN PRESS

686 S. Engelmann et al. / Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 293 (2005) 685–689

 reproducible adjustability of the upper electro-

magnet to minimize the measuring error of force
and nevertheless keeping a constant width of the
gap between the two magnets is possible,
 reliable enclosement of the ferrofluid between
the magnetic poles is within reach.

Fig. 1. Principle of measurement for a simple linear machine

(left) and for a stepping motor (right).

3. Construction of a ferrofluid supported rotating

electric machine

For testing a rotating machine, a commercial

asynchronous motor has been modified as shown
in Fig. 3. The following demands have to be
considered:

 the hollow space outside the gap between stator

and rotor has to be minimized to reduce the
needed quantity of ferrofluid,
 rotation as well as magnetic and electric
functionality must not be influenced.
Fig. 2. Photo of the ferrofluid supported linear machine
equipped for measuring lateral forces.
The undesirable hollow spaces in the construction
of the electric machine are filled with epoxy resin,
which is capsulated with aluminium sheets to
drive (left), and for grooved magnet surfaces, prevent dissolving by organic fluids. Thus a
simulating a stepping motor (right), can be seen. minimum of consumption of ferrofluid is guaran-
The reaction forces (lateral forces) of two hor- teed. An influx and an outlet for the fluid are
izontally moved electromagnets are measured.
Fig. 2 shows a photo of the linear electric
machine, where the major parts are depicted. The
lower electromagnet is fixed. The upper one moves
on ball bearings on polished steel round rods. This
reduces the force due to rolling friction down to a
maximum of 0.03 N. The forces are measured with
a DMS-based force sensor by a computer-aided
measuring system. This DMS-based force sensor
can be seen in the background.
The following demands are fulfilled by the
measurement set-up:

 the forces which are acting between the lateral

moved electromagnets, can be measured,
 precise adjustment of the gap width between the
two magnetic poles is achievable,
 balancing out of the whole apparatus to avoid Fig. 3. Rotating electric induction machine equipped for
effects of gravity is feasible, operation with ferrofluids.
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S. Engelmann et al. / Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 293 (2005) 685–689 687

Fig. 5. Bar graphs for the lateral forces for the airgap and 7
different ferrofluids in the gap measured at several magnet coil
Fig. 4. Experimental set-up to measure the parameters (torque, currents; gap width of 0.5 mm (upper) and 1.0 mm (lower).
rotational speed, voltages, currents) for the rotating asynchro-
nous motor.

mounted. A weak spot for sealing the motor is the

rotating axis. The best solution in this experi-
mental stage is to collect the fluid coming out from
there and refill it.
The rotational speed in the measuring set
depicted in Fig. 4 is controlled by a frequency
converter. An eddy-current brake gives a mechan-
ical load. From the current provided to the brake,
the produced torque can be calculated [5]. A strain
gauge-based torque meter, which records also the
rotational speed, measures the torque acting on
the motor.

Fig. 6. Bar chart of the amplification of force for three-

4. Experimental results for the linear electric different ferrofluids in the gap relative to the airgap measured
machine with several magnet coil currents; 0.5 mm gap width.

Experiments have been carried out for a variety

of fluids. Each type of ferrofluid is characterized in versus the exciting current for a gap width of
Fig. 5 with its saturation magnetization. Fluids 0.5 mm, Fig. 7 shows the same for a gap width of
with lower saturation magnetization are available 1.0 mm.
on the market, the better ones are produced in The results allow the following conclusions:
laboratories at an experimental stage.
In Fig. 5, one sees two bar graphs for the lateral  a remarkable force amplification is given,
forces between the two magnets for air in the gap  as expected wider the gap, larger the effect
as well as seven different fluids and for several because of the greater influence of the changed
exciting magnet coil currents. The left graph is for magnetic resistance,
a gap width of 0.5 mm, the right one for 1.0 mm.  for a lower coil current, which means a less
Fig. 6 shows the amplification of lateral force magnetic field in the gap, the amplification effect
related to the air-filled gap for three different fluids rises,
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688 S. Engelmann et al. / Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 293 (2005) 685–689

Fig. 7. Bar chart of the amplification of force for three-

different ferrofluids in the gap relative to the airgap measured
with several magnet coil currents; 1.0 mm gap width.

Fig. 9. Lateral force versus path length for the grooved-

surfaced magnets.

importance of the effect with regard to the holding

torque in stepping machines. This point indicates
the most probable area of employment of ferro-
fluids in electric machines, because, due to the low
linear or rotating velocities in applications of
stepping motors, friction is negligible.

Fig. 8. Lateral force versus path length for the flat-surfaced

magnets. 5. Experimental results for the rotating electric
machine

 the behaviour of the fluids under test is very Two types of ferrofluids were tested at low
individual, which means that besides the satura- rotational speeds, because at higher speeds the
tion magnetization, other properties such as additional friction will be predominant. In Fig. 10,
viscosity and shape of the magnetic particles are the efficiency of the induction motor is depicted
also important. versus the measured torque load for three rota-
tional speeds with air and a kerosene-based fluid of
Fig. 8 gives some examples of the lateral force 122 mT saturation magnetization in the gap. In
along the measured path for four different exciting Fig. 11, the same is done for a water-based fluid
coil currents and the gap filled with air and two with 57 mT.
different fluids. Here the flat-surfaced magnets are Fig. 12 shows the increase of efficiency in the
used as in Figs. 5–7. induction motor for three different rotational
In Fig. 9, the lateral force along the measured speeds and the 122 mT ferrofluid. Here the
path for grooved surfaced magnets is taken using influence of the rotational speed is evident.
air and two different fluids. At every step a With more technological effort, the upper limit
remarkable increase of the maximum force can of the rotational speed, at which the force
be seen. This gain of force makes clear the amplification will predominate the friction, can
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S. Engelmann et al. / Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 293 (2005) 685–689 689

10
60
9
8

increase of efficiency [%]

50
7
efficiency [%]

40
6
30 500 rpm, 122 mT 5
500 rpm, no fluid 4
20 300 rpm, 122 mT
400 rpm, 122 mT 3
400 rpm, no fluid 400 rpm, 122 mT
10 2
300 rpm, 122 mT
500 rpm, 122 mT
300 rpm, no fluid 1
0
0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5
torque load [Nm] torque load [Nm]
Fig. 10. Efficiency of the induction motor for three different Fig. 12. Increase of efficiency for three different rotational
rotational speeds and a 122 mT saturation magnetization speeds and a ferrofluid with 122 mT saturation magnetization.
ferrofluid as well as air in the gap.

relevance of ferrofluid application for building

more efficient electric motors in the future. For
60
technical applications, a standardization of ferro-
50 fluids is desirable. Some technological effort is
necessary to guarantee a reliable enclosement of
efficiency [%]

40 the fluids. Innovative fluids, e.g. based on cobalt

particles with a higher saturation magnetization
30 500 rpm, 57 mT
500 rpm, no fluid
and lower viscosity as well as excellent stability
20 400 rpm, 57 mT will be very promising.
400 rpm, no fluid
10 300 rpm, 57 mT
300 rpm, no fluid
0 References
0 0.5 1.0 1.5
torque load [Nm] [1] E. Guyon, J.-P. Hulin, L. Petit, Hydrodynamik, Vieweg,
Braunschweig, 1997.
Fig. 11. Efficiency of the induction motor for three different
[5] D. Schieber, Electromagnetic Induction Phenomena,
rotational speeds and a 57 mT saturation magnetization
Springer Series in Electrophysics, vol. 16, Springer, Berlin,
ferrofluid as well as air in the gap.
1986.

be raised as theoretical investigations applying the

Couette flow have proved [1]. Further reading

[2] A. Nethe, Th. Scholz, H.-D. Stahlmann, vol. 1, 2003, part 1,

351.
6. Summary
[3] A. Nethe, Th. Scholz, H.-D. Stahlmann, Magnetohydrody-
namics 3 (2001) 312.
The results of the measurements both for linear [4] A. Nethe, Th. Scholz, H.-D. Stahlmann, IEEE Trans.
and rotating electric machines promise a high Magn. 38 (2) (2002) 1177.