Field lines of a ring of magnets?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the design of a permanent magnet alternator (PMA) utilizing a ring of magnets oriented in a single direction. The user, Brian, inquires about the magnetic field lines produced by this configuration, questioning whether it would yield a useful magnetic field or if the fields would cancel each other out. Bob S clarifies that for PMAs, there are two primary rotor configurations: axial field and radial field, with the axial field design being more favorable due to simpler coil layout. The visual representation provided by Brian suggests that the magnetic fields would emanate outward and curl back, which aligns with the principles of magnetic field behavior.

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  • Understanding of permanent magnet alternators (PMAs)
  • Knowledge of magnetic field theory
  • Familiarity with axial and radial field configurations
  • Basic principles of electromagnetism
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  • Research the design principles of permanent magnet alternators
  • Explore the differences between axial and radial field configurations in PMAs
  • Study magnetic field visualization techniques
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Engineers, hobbyists, and researchers interested in the design and optimization of permanent magnet alternators, as well as those studying magnetic field behavior in various configurations.

dfinch
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Hi I'm trying to build a permanent magnet alternator with a different approach than usual. Most PMAs have a ring of magnets alternating north and south. But I'm wondering what would the field lines look like if ALL the magnets faced one direction? Would it provide a useful magnetic field, or does it cancel itself out somehow?

Here's my visual image of what I'd expect to see:

http://fenstalker.com/content/ring_magnet.gif

I know my arrows are confusing, but the idea is that the fields would emanate from the outside of the ring, then curl back up and down, returning to the center, from all angles. Is this accurate?

Your thoughts?

Thanks!
-brian
 
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Hi dfinch-
For an alternator, there are two choices for a permanent magnet rotor; Axial field (field parallel to the alternator axis) or radial field. The coil design and layout is much easier for the axial field magnet design. See
http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2009/4/4/214533/4539
Bob S
 
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