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This paper deals with the design and optimization of a 2.1 MW rim-driven electric thruster for ship propulsion. For this purpose, a double stator ironless rotor axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor is considered as the propulsion motor. The analytical model of the selected AFPM motor is presented. The magnetic field in the AFPM machine is calculated using the 3D magnetic charge concept in combination with image theory and permeance functions to take into account the stator slotting effects, and a simple thermal model is used to evaluate the heat dissipation capabilities of the machine and the thermal dependence of the main electromagnetic losses. To optimally design the AFPM, an optimization process based on genetic algorithms is applied to minimize the cost of the active motor materials. An appropriate objective function has been constructed, and different constraints related to the main electrical, geometrical, and mechanical parameters have been taken into account. The achieved results are compared with the performance of a podded radial flux permanent magnet (RFPM) motor, which is considered a reference propulsion motor. The obtained results show a fairly satisfactory improvement in the cost and masses of the active motor materials. Finally, the accuracy of the obtained optimum solution is validated by performing 3D finite element analysis (3D-FEA) simulations.

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