The present invention relates to a motor permanent-magnet.
Recently, rare earth magnets such as neodymium magnets, having a superior magnetic properties although more expensive than ferrite magnets, are widely used for motor permanent-magnets. On the other hand, metallic magnets, which are represented by the rare earth magnets, have a problem of increase in an eddy current loss when AC magnetic field of a high frequency is applied to the metallic magnets because the metallic magnets have lower electric resistances than the ferrite magnets.
Conventionally, a rare earth magnet containing a high electric resistive material to decrease the eddy current loss is proposed (see, for example, in Patent Document 1). The rare earth magnet is produced through formation of a powder mixture of powder material of a Nd—Fe—B alloy and a powder of B2O3 in a magnetic field, and then subjected to a sintering process, and a heat treatment.
In the rare earth magnet, combined boron oxide with a high electric resistance produced by reducing B2O3 with the Nd—Fe—B alloy in the sintering process increases an electric resistance of the Nd—Fe—B alloy. As a result, the rare earth magnet can decrease the eddy current loss and thus can prevent an efficiency of a motor from decreasing and magnetic properties from degrading (thermal demagnetization) due to heat generation.
JP 2002-64010 A
However the conventional rare earth magnet mentioned above has a problem of degradation in a magnetic property due to decrease in ratio of the magnetic phase formed in the rare earth magnet because the rare earth magnet is produced by mixing an oxide powder (B2O3 powder) with an a material powder of the Nd—Fe—B alloy as mentioned above.
An object of the present invention is to provide a motor permanent-magnet capable of preventing a magnetic property from degrading and efficiently suppressing generation of eddy currents.
To solve the problem of the present invention provides a motor permanent-magnet including a coating film in a surface thereof, the coating film including magnetic phases dispersed in an electrical nonconductive matrix. The motor permanent-magnet has the coating film near a surface of the magnet where an eddy current tends to flow with a greater magnitude by a conductor skin effect, so that the eddy current is cut off by the electrically nonconductive matrix and dispersed by magnetic phases and the dispersed small eddy currents flow in respective magnetic phases. In other words, in the motor permanent-magnet, the coating film suppresses a magnitude of the eddy current, which originally become greater near the surface, to make the eddy currents small.
Further, unlike a conventional motor permanent-magnet (for example, combined boron oxide) including a high resistive material dispersed up to inside thereof, the motor permanent-magnet according to the present invention does not include such a high resistive material inside thereof where the eddy current in magnitude is originally small. This prevents a ratio of the magnetic phase therein from decreasing and thus prevents the magnetic properties from being degraded.
In the motor permanent-magnet, a content rate of the magnetic powder forming the magnetic phase in the coating film is preferably equal to or greater than 12.5% and equal to or smaller than 36.6% in area ratio.
In the motor permanent-magnet, a thickness of the coating film is preferably equal to or greater than 50 μm.
According to a motor permanent-magnet of the present invention can prevent the magnetic property from degrading as well as efficiently suppress generation of eddy currents.
Next with reference to drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention.
Prior to describing motor permanent-magnet according to the embodiment, will be described a motor in which the motor permanent magnets are built.
As shown in
The rotor R is mainly include a rotor shaft Ra, an annular rotor yoke Rb mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor shaft Ra; a plurality of motor permanent-magnets 1 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “magnet 1”) disposed in a plurality of slots Rc formed along a circumferential direction of the rotor yoke Rb and an end plate (not shown) closing openings of the slots Rc.
In this motor 10, as well known, a high frequency AC magnetic field generated by a coil C of the stator S is applied to the magnets 1, so that the rotor R rotates.
Next, will be described the magnet 1 according to the embodiment.
As shown in
The coating film 12 includes magnetic phases 14 made of a magnetic powder dispersed in an electrically nonconductive matrix 13 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a “matrix 13”), and is formed by coating a composition for forming the coating film (mentioned later) on a surface of the magnet matrix 11 and drying the coating film.
A thickness of the coating film 12 is preferably equal to or greater than 50 pm and equal to or smaller than 120 μm. More preferably, the thickness is equal to or smaller than 100 μm.
In addition, in the magnet 1 according to the embodiment, the coating film 12 is formed on all surfaces (six surfaces) of the magnet matrix 11 in a rectangular plate.
There is no limitation in selection of material for the matrix 13 only if it is formed with an electrically nonconductive material. For example, ceramics, resin materials are usable. In addition, the matrix 13 comprising ceramics is preferable because the ceramics increases a strength (stiffness) of the coating film 12 and is superior in heat resistance and corrosion resistance or the like. Particularly, a ceramics produced by a sol-gel method mentioned later is preferable because the ceramics has a superior adhesion with surfaces of the magnet matrix 11 mentioned later and surfaces of the magnetic powder forming the magnet phases 14. Hereinbelow will be more specifically described the matrix 13 comprising the ceramics.
The matrix 13 comprising the ceramics is configured to include metallic oxide. There is no special limitation in selection of the metallic oxide only if it is the metallic oxide. For example, the metallic oxide is represented by a formula (1) and preferably produced by the sol-gel method mentioned above.
MOm (1)
where M represents Si (silicon), Ti (titanium), Zr (zirconium), Ge (germanium), Al (aluminum), Sn (tin), or Sb (antimony), and m is 2 when M is Si, Ti, Zr, Ge and ⅔ when M is Al or Sb.
Among these metallic oxides, SiO2 and Al2O3 are more preferable.
There is no special limitation in selection of the magnetic powder forming the magnetic phase 14. For example, an iron powder, a Fe—Al—Si alloy (sendust) powder, a Fe—Si alloy (iron suicide) powder, a Fe—Ni alloy (permalloy) powder, a Fe—Ni—Mo alloy (super permalloy) powder, a nitriding iron powder, an iron aluminum alloy powder, an iron-cobalt alloy powder, a ferro-phosphorous powder, and the like are usable. Among them, the Fe—Al—Si alloy (sendust) powder is most preferable.
A particle diameter of the magnetic powder is preferably equal to or greater than 3 μm or equal to or smaller than 70 μm.
A content rate of the magnetic powder in the coating film 12 is determined by an area ratio of the magnetic powder (magnetic phase 14) in a cross section of the coating film 12, which is preferably equal to or greater than 12.5% and equal to or smaller than 36.6% and more preferably equal to or greater than 12.5% and equal to or smaller than 30.5% in the area ratio.
There is no special limitation in selection of the magnet matrix 11. However, when a metallic magnet, which has a low electric resistance and tends to easily generate an eddy current loss, is used, a more outstanding advantageous effect of the present invention can be expected. As the metallic magnet, for example, alnico magnets and rare earth magnets, such as samarium-cobalt magnets and Neodymium magnets, are usable.
Next will be described operation of the magnet 1 according to the embodiment.
As shown in
First, will be described the eddy current generated in a motor permanent-magnet in a comparative example prior to description of the eddy current generated in the magnet 1 according to the embodiment.
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
Further, unlike a conventional motor permanent-magnet (see, for example, Patent Document 1) including a high resistive material (for example, boron oxide) dispersed up to inside thereof, because the inside of the magnet 1 where the eddy current is originally small is formed with the magnet matrix 11 which does not include such a high resistive material. This prevents a ratio of the magnetic phase therein from decreasing and thus prevents the magnetic properties from being degraded.
Accordingly, the magnet 1 according to the embodiment can prevent the magnetic properties from degrading as well as efficiently suppress generation of the eddy currents I, and thus prevent decrease in efficiency of the motor 10. In addition, as a quantity of heat generated in the magnet can be decreased by suppressing generation of the eddy current I, when the magnet matrix 11 is formed with a neodymium magnet, thermal demagnetization of the magnet 1 can be prevented.
Will be described a method of producing the magnet 1 according to the embodiment.
The magnet 1 is produced by coating the composition for forming the film on a surface of the magnet matrix 11 and drying the composition.
The composition for forming the coating film includes sol-gel material of metallic oxide and the magnetic powder.
The sol-gel material includes hydlized polycondensate of metallic compound given by formula (2).
MXn (2)
where M is the same as M in the formula (1), X represents an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, when M is Si, Ti, Zr, Ge, or Sn, n is 4, and when M is Al or Sb, n is 3. As the alkoxy group, those having a carbon number of from one to three are preferable. As the halogen atom, fluorine, chlorine, and bromine are preferable. Further, as the metallic compound shown in the formula (2), for example, there are tetra-ethoxysilane, tetra-methoxysilane, tetra-bromosilane, tetra-n-butoxysilane, titanium ethoxide, titanium methoxide, titanium n-propoxide, titanium n-nonyloxide, titanium isosteary isopropoxide, zirconium ethoxide, zirconium methoxide, zirconium isopropoxide, zirconium 2-methyl-2-butoxide, aluminum(III) s-butoxide, aluminum(III) t-butoxide, aluminum(III) ethoxide, aluminum(III) s-isopropoxide, tetra-ethoxygermane, tetra-methoxygermane, tetra-isopropoxygermane, tetra-butoxygermane, tetra-ethoxy tin, tetra-methoxy tin, tetra-isopropoxy tin, tetra-butoxy tin, antimony(III) n-butoxide, antimony(III) methoxide, antimony(III) ethoxide, and antimony(III) s-isopropoxide.
The sol-gel material can be prepared by mixing the metallic compounds represented by the formula (2), water necessary for hydrolysis, a catalyst, a solvent for controlling a viscosity, as required, and steering at room temperature or with heating, as required.
As the catalyst, acid catalysts are preferable. For example, there are formic acid, acetic acid, tetra-fluoroacetic acid; propanoic acid, oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.
As the solvent, for example, there are alcohols, cycloaliphatics hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketons, and ethers.
The composition for forming the coating film can be prepared by mixing the sol-gel material with the magnetic powder.
The magnetic powder is similar to the above-mentioned magnetic powder for forming the magnetic phases 14. It is preferably set that a content rate of the magnetic powder in the composition for forming the coating film is equal to or greater than 12.5% and equal to or smaller than 36.6% in the area ratio when the composition for forming the film is coated and dried on a surface of the magnet matrix 11. For example, the coating film 12 including the magnetic powder at the area ratio of 12.5% can be formed by coating the composition for forming the film including the magnetic powder at a content rate of 30 mass % and drying the coated composition. Further, the coating film 12 including the magnetic powder at the area ratio of 36.6% can be formed by coating the composition for forming the film including the magnetic powder at a content rate of 70 mass % and drying the coated composition. Further, to make the area ratio equal to or smaller than 30.5% the composition for forming the film including the magnetic powder with a content rate of 60 mass % are coated and dried the coated composition.
Next, according to the producing method the magnet 1 can be formed by coating the composition for forming the film on the surface of the magnet matrix 11 and drying the coated composition. A dried thickness of the composition for forming the film is preferably 50 to 120 μm and more preferably equal to or smaller than 100 μm.
Drying the composition for forming the coating film is performed at room temperature or under heating. The producing method may be carried out in the coating and drying processes by proceeding the hydlized polycondensate reaction of the metallic compound represented by the formula (2) in the sol-gel material.
Next, will be described an example of which operation and an advantageous effect of the motor permanent-magnet according to the present invention have been confirmed.
In the first example, first, as the magnet matrix, an Nd—Fe—B system permanent magnet having a grade of 302 kJ/m3 (38MGOe) (with dimensions of 36.1 mm×32 mm×4.5 mm manufactured by Hitachi Metals, Ltd.) was prepared. Prior to use the magnet matrix, the magnet matrix was subjected to removal of an oxide film and then cleaning with acetone.
On the other hand, the composition for forming the coating film was prepared to be coated on the surface of the magnet matrix. The composition for forming the coating film was prepared by mixing a sol-gel material including SiO2 which is hydrolytic polycondensation of tetra-ethoxysilane with a sendust powder (with average particle diameter of 10 μm, Fe—Al—Si alloy powder manufactured by KOBE STEEL., LTD.). In addition, a content rate of the sendust powder in the composition for forming the coating film was controlled to be 70 mass %.
Next, the composition for forming the coating film was coated on the surface of the magnet matrix with a thickness of 100 μm when measured after drying. Next, the magnet was produced by drying the coated composition for forming the coating film at 180° C. The content rate of the magnetic powder in the coating film formed on the surface of the magnet matrix was 36.6% in the area ratio mentioned above.
In the first comparative example, the magnet was produced similarly to the magnet according to the first example and the first comparative example except that a chemical plating film is formed instead of the coating film on the magnet according to the first example.
Next, exothermic temperatures in the magnets produced in the first example and the first comparative example were calculated and an energy loss decrease quantity of the magnet produced by the first example from the magnets produced by the first comparative example was calculated.
To measure the exothermic temperature of the magnet, a measuring unit using a thermocouple was used.
As shown in
Next, the energy loss decrease ΔPc in the magnet produced by the first example with reference to the magnets produced by the first comparative example is calculated on the basis of the following Equation (3).
ΔPc=(Pe2+Ph2)−(Pe1+Ph1) (3)
where Pe1 is the eddy current loss in the magnet of the first example, Ph1 is a hysteresis loss in the magnet of the first example, Pe2 is an eddy current loss in the magnet of the first comparative example, Ph2 is a hysteresis loss in the magnet of the first comparative example. These Pe1, Ph1, Pe2, and Ph2 were measured by a B-H analyzer.
The energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc in the magnet produced in the first example was 0.021 W.
Further, it was confirmed through calculation that the temperature of the magnet is 180° C. when the magnets produced in the first comparative example are used as the permanent magnets in a motor (rotor) and that the temperature of the magnet is 138° C. when the magnet produced in the first example are used as the permanent magnets in a motor (rotor). More specifically, it was confirmed that the temperature of the magnets in an actual motor is decreased by 42° C. by using the magnets in the first example instead of the magnets in the first comparative example.
In the second example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that an Fe-6Si alloy powder (with an average particle diameter of 10 μm) was used instead of the sendust powder as the magnetic powder. Similar to the first example, the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was calculated. ΔPc is 0.016 W.
Further, it was confirmed that the temperature of the magnet in an actual motor decreased by 39° C. by using the magnet in the first example instead of the magnet in the comparative example.
In the third example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that a Fe-78Ni alloy powder (with an average particle diameter of 10 μm) was used instead of the sendust powder as the magnetic powder. Similar to the first example, the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was calculated.
In a fourth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that a Fe50Co alloy powder (with an average particle diameter of 10 μm) was used instead of the sendust powder as the magnetic powder. Similar to the first example, the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was calculated.
As shown in
In the fifth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that the content rate of the magnetic powder in the composition for forming the coating film was changed from 70 mass % to 50 mass %, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was calculated. The content rate of the magnetic powder for the coating film was 24.5% in the area ratio mentioned above.
In the sixth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that the content rate of the magnetic powder in the composition for forming the coating film was changed from 70 mass % to 30 mass %, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was calculated. The content rate of the magnetic powder for the coating film was 12.5% in the area ratio mentioned above.
In the second comparative example, it was tried to produce the magnet similarly to the first example with change of the content rate of the magnetic powder in the composition for forming the coating film from 70 mass % to 80 mass %. However, the coating film, in which the magnetic phases were dispersed, could not be formed because of too much magnetic powder.
As shown in
In the seventh example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that a thickness of the coating film (average thickness) was changed from 100 μm to 50 μm, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
In the third comparative example, the magnet was not coated with coating film on the magnet matrix used in the first example as it was.
Next, a magnet was produced similar to the first example and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
In the eighth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that the particle diameter of the used magnetic powder was changed from 10 μm to 5 μm, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
In the ninth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the seventh example except that the particle diameter of the used magnetic powder was changed from 10 μm to 5 μm, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
In the tenth example, a magnet was produced similarly to the first example except that the particle diameter of the used magnetic powder was changed from 10 μm to 30 μm, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
In the eleventh example, a magnet was produced similarly to the seventh example except that the particle diameter of the used magnetic powder was changed from 10 μm to 30 μm, and the energy loss decrease quantity ΔPc was obtained.
As shown by the solid line in
Further, as clearly shown by comparison among a broken line (particle diameter of the magnetic powder: 5 μm), a solid line (particle diameter of the magnetic powder: 10 μm), and a dashed line (particle diameter of the magnetic powder: 30 μm) in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-288015 | Nov 2007 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2008/070046 | 11/4/2008 | WO | 00 | 5/4/2010 |