Temperature-dependent modelling of magnetic ageing of FeSi electrical steels

Abstract

This paper deals with the temperature-dependent modelling of iron losses in the context of magnetic ageing of electricals steel used in high power electrical machines. First, two electrical steel sheet grades were heat treated at three temperatures in order to study the ageing effect evolution as a function of temperature. Results show a significant increase in iron losses for both steel grades. Then, considering the link between the macroscopic magnetic properties evolution (effect) and the microscopic precipitation (cause), the Johnson – Mehl – Avrami – Kolmogorov (JMAK) law describing the kinetics of precipitation was applied to model the time evolution of magnetic ageing. By coupling this model with the Arrhenius’ law, a model is developed to be able to predict the ageing for several temperature levels.