Flux‐switching machines are a type of brushless machines with a doubly salient structure, which has excitation sources, for example, permanent magnets (PMs) and/or field‐excited windings, and armature windings on the stator, and no magnets or windings on the rotor. The flux‐switching machines have the advantages of high torque (power) density, large torque output capability, high efficiency, strong irreversible demagnetization withstand capability, good thermal dissipation and liquid cooling conditions, and favorable high‐speed operation. These advantages are particularly important for electric propulsion systems, such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, and electric ships and airplanes.
According to the excitation modes, there are three types of flux‐switching machines: permanent magnet flux‐switching (PMFS) machines, hybrid‐excited flux‐switching (HEFS) machines, and wound‐excited flux‐switching (WEFS) machines. This article presents topologies, operation principles, electromagnetic performance, and applications of flux‐switching machines. In addition, different topologies of stator and rotor are also discussed.