A Comparative Study of the Performance Capabilities of Magnetic Gears

This article is a literature review and comparison of the performance capabilities of magnetic gears. The purpose of this paper was to determine the validity of further attempts at implementing magnetic gear technology into large scale applications such as wind turbines. It was determined that mechanical gears still carry an advantage over magnetic gears in terms of performance; magnetic gears have only reached a peak torque performance of 731 Nm. The highest torque density for a magnetic gear is 239 Nm/L. Improvements in magnetic gears, such as, the types of magnets used, and improved topologies of the gears have been significant factors in improving the performance of magnetic gears. Such improvements signify that there is potential in magnetic gear technology, and that further research in designing high performing magnetic gears could potentially lead to a viable replacement for mechanical gears