Permanent Magnet motors are used in a broad power range from mWs to hundreds kWs. There are also attempts to apply PMs to large motors rated at minimum 1 MW. Thus, PM motors cover a wide variety of application fields, from step- ping motors for wrist watches, through industrial drives for machine tools to large PM synchronous motors for ship propulsion (navy frigates, cruise ships, medium size cargo vessels and ice breakers). The application of PM electric motors includes:
Industry:
industrial drives, e.g., pumps, fans, blowers, compressors,
centrifuges, mills, hoists, handling systems, etc.
machine tools
servo drives
automation processes
internal transportation systems
robots
Public life:
heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems – catering equipment
coin laundry machines
autobank machines
automatic vending machines
money changing machines
ticketing machines
bar code scanners at supermarkets
environmental control systems
clocks
amusement park equipment
Domestic life:
kitchen equipment (refrigerators, microwave ovens, in-sink garbage dis-posers, dishwashers, mixers, grills, etc.)
bathroom equipment (shavers, hair dryers, tooth brushes, massage ap-paratus)
washing machines and clothes dryers
HVAC systems, humidifiers and dehumidifiers
vacuum cleaners
lawn mowers
pumps (wells, swimming pools, jacuzzi whirlpool tubs)
toys
vision and sound equipment
cameras
cellular phones
security systems (automatic garage doors, automatic gates)
Information and office equipment:
computers
printers
plotters
scanners
facsimile machines
photocopiers
audiovisual aids
Automobiles with combustion engines;
Transportation:
elevators and escalators
people movers
light railways and streetcars (trams)
electric road vehicles
aircraft flight control surface actuation – electric ships
electric boats
electric aicrafts
Defense forces:
tanks
missiles
radar systems – submarines
torpedos
Aerospace:
rockets
space shuttles
satellites
Medical and healthcare equipment:
dental handpieces (dentist’s drills)
electric wheelchairs
air compressors
trotters
rehabilitation equipment
artificial heart motors
Power tools:
drills
hammers
screwdrivers
grinders
polishers
saws
sanders
sheep shearing handpieces
Renewable energy systems
Research and exploration equipment
The automotive industry is the biggest user of PM d.c. commutator motors. The number of auxiliary d.c. PM commutator motors can vary from a few in an inexpensive car to about one hundred in a luxury car.
Small PM brushless motors are first of all used in computer hard disk drives (HDDs) and cooling fans.
