Design of Rare-Earth Element-Free Radial-Axial Flux Switching Generator for Variable-Speed Wind Turbines in Micro-Grids        

1. Patented “ITU Generator” Architecture

An original structure completely free of rare-earth elements, featuring segmented stator teeth and reversely wound armature windings. (Patent Application No: 2025/022888)

2. Radial-Axial (Radi-Axial) Hybrid Topology

A compact structure verified by 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA), utilizing 3D magnetic flux and modeled with an original Magnetic Equivalent Circuit (MEC).

3. Nature-Inspired Smart Optimization

Simultaneous optimization of 9 different design variables (stack length, diameters, etc.) using GWO and PSO algorithms in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.

4. Winding Configuration and Performance

Superiority of the distributed winding structure over the concentrated winding: 138.55% increase in induced voltage, 43.7% increase in torque capacity, and low harmonic content.

Production and Testing Process

Following theoretical analyses, physical prototyping studies are carried out in the laboratory environment.

               
• Manufacturing: The designed segmented stator architecture undergoes high-precision manufacturing processes in collaboration with SMS Defense.
               
• Validation: Voltage, torque, and thermal performance tests are conducted on the prototype to calibrate the simulation models.
           

Corporate Stakeholders

               
• ✔️ TUBITAK ARDEB: Main funding provider
               
• ✔️ ITU BAP: Infrastructure support
               
• ✔️ SMS Defense / WAT Motor: Industrial collaboration and technical consultancy
           

Academic Staff

               
• Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Onur GÜLBAHÇE (Principal Investigator)
               
• Prof. Nevzat ONAT (Advisor)
               
• Assoc. Prof. Derya Ahmet KOCABAŞ (Advisor)
               
• Dr. Altay ARBAK (Researcher)
               
• Dr. Tuğberk ÖZMEN (Researcher)
           

Scholar Researchers

               
• Batı Eren ERGUN (Ph.D. Scholar)
               
• Buse SOYDAŞ (M.Sc. Scholar)
               
• Tayfun IŞIKELEKOĞLU, Çağan Berkay OKUR (Undergraduate Scholar)
               
• Zemzem ÖĞÜT (Student Researcher)
               
• Ali Eren DAĞ, Adar Deniz SEVİM, Alptürk İNCESU (STAR Scholar)
           

Intellectual Property

📜 Patent Application: 2025/022888 - "Innovative Radial Flux Electrical Machine Architecture (ITU Generator)"            

Completed and Ongoing Theses

               
• Ph.D. Thesis: Dr. Tuğberk ÖZMEN, “Contributions to the Analytical Design Optimization of Flux-Switching Generators Based on Multi-Objective Metaheuristic Algorithms”
               
• M.Sc. Thesis: Batı Eren ERGUN, “Design and Meta-Heuristic Based Optimization of Axial-Flux Induction Generator For Variable Speed Wind Turbines”
           

Publications and Proceedings

               
• 1 International Conference Proceeding
               
• 2 National Conference Proceedings
               
• 1 SCOPUS, 1 TR-DIZIN, and 2 SCI-Indexed Articles.