Broli
The main problem many encounter is that the magnetic modelling concept there using is flawed. There are no lines of flux and the magnetic field in the cores is made up of billions of individual electron spins not imaginary lines.
A better model recognizes the property of "magnetic induction" not to be confused with electromagnetic induction. I modified the picture below to show how a north polarity (red field) induces an opposite south polarity (blue field) wherever a boundary condition occurs. This can be verified taking actual measurements with a magnetometer.
The effect is generally called induced magnetism, https://gcsephysicsrevision.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/what-is-the-difference-between-induced-and-permanent-magnetism/
Note how the magnetic air gap in the core acts very similar to the gap between two capacitor plates. In fact the magnetic field induction process is almost identical to the electric field induction process. There is also magnetic field displacement similar to electric field displacement found in capacitors. Energy appears to move across a gap (displacement) because an opposite polarity is induced on the other side of the gap like a mirror image.
Note that in the modified picture there is a mirror image or symmetry across the magnet-core gap and core-gap. Now think about what happens if you apply a load to any of your coils. The load current magnetic field opposes the induced field from the rotor in the core. This changes the magnetic field density in the core which then acts on the rotor magnetic field loading it as well. I found most people have the concept of symmetry backwards and the load breaks the symmetry of the system and the imbalance is then reflected back to the source.
In effect, if the magnetic field density induced in the core across the gap by the rotor magnet is not a perfect reflection being equal and opposite the rotor will load up.
AC
Hello AC,
I wholeheartedly share your viewpoint. Personally, I find the traditional concept of "fields" a bit limiting. Yet, it remains a more familiar and straightforward framework for most, compared to the complex idea of electron spins aligning within the crystal lattice structure. The latter, while more captivating in its intricacy, isn't as widely recognized. It's truly fascinating to consider how a permanent magnet can be seen as a macroscopic embodiment of the electron's properties. Envision ferromagnetic materials as being comprised of countless, perpetually spinning, minuscule current loops. These loops align due to the standing waves formed by paired electrons, interlocking atoms in a manner akin to Lego blocks.
In soft ferromagnetic materials, this lattice-like structure is loosely interconnected across domain walls. Contrastingly, in hard ferromagnetic materials, this interconnection is much more robust, demanding significantly more magnetic energy to change their orientation. Thus, when the structure is sufficiently strong, we observe an even larger manifestation of the electron. This phenomenon is also evident in macroscopic scenarios. Consider, for example, a space filled with tiny permanent magnets (PMs) fixed in such a way that they can rotate but not move from their spots. If spaced sufficiently apart, they would behave like a soft ferromagnet, aligning with an applied field and then 'relaxing' once the field diminishes, only to realign with their neighbors and neutralize the overall field. However, reducing the average distance between them creates a harder alignment challenge due to the intensified mutual attraction of their opposite poles. Nevertheless, if we apply a sufficiently strong field to overcome this inter-canceling magnetic force, they can align and, remarkably, stay aligned, as each neighbor now reinforces the alignment of the others. A single PM cannot resist the collective force of its neighbors, thus it must align. This entire dynamic arises from a change in STRUCTURE (akin to the crystal lattice in ferromagnetism), enabling such behavior.
This is almost a poetic reflection of a lone unpaired electron, endlessly seeking its oppositely spinning counterpart. And if the STRUCTURE permits, it is compelled by its neighbors to align and seek out larger manifestations of itself to counterbalance its own spin. Ferromagnets, or more precisely unpaired electrons in the right structure, would endlessly expand and attract more unpaired electrons to collectively create larger representations of themselves. This entire process of ferromagnetism is a direct result of STRUCTURE. Without it, our tiny PMs would disperse, illustrating the formidable strength of the lattice within atoms, all driven by the interactions between orbitals, which I believe are also influenced by the spin of paired electrons. Intriguingly, without spin, atoms might not exist. It’s an intriguing paradox: while the Coulomb force repels electrons from each other, their spin engenders wave-like properties, similar to modes in an antenna, that allow them to attract strongly enough to maintain alignment with other unpaired electrons in the same direction. Spin is fundamental. When you hold a permanent magnet, remember that you are essentially holding a gigantic electron. There is a wealth of novel research unfolding these mysteries, including investigations into how a strong magnetic "field" can even alter the crystal structure itself.
Now to get back to the idea. As you rightly pointed out, this alignment does not disrupt the underlying force symmetry when you move the magnet in and out. My insistence on low resistance is grounded in the fact that resistance transforms "structured" energy into "unstructured" energy, such as heat, as per the first law of thermodynamics. Therefore, we aim for the coil's resistance to be as low as possible, ideally reaching the level of a superconductor.
With zero resistance in the system, the forces involved would remain symmetrical EVEN if there is a current flowing. According to simulation data, this would occur without expending mechanical energy since the forces would remain perfectly symmetrical, albeit slightly diminished between the current and non current flowing variant. This essentially results in a system that performs no work.
However, what if we could introduce a time delay in this induced (super) current? Imagine the magnet reaching its apex, only to encounter a current reacting to its position from a fraction of a second earlier. Given the direct proportionality between the flowing current and the mechanical force it produces, this would effectively delay the actual mechanical force exerted on the moving magnet, creating a phase-shifted force graph that lags behind the real-world mechanical movement.
Achieving this might seem like magic, but it's quite straightforward. An inductor accomplishes exactly that. By attaching the very low-resistance (or zero-resistance) "coil" to an external inductor, the latter would act like a proverbial magnetic flywheel. Driven by the "mechanical" coil responding to the magnet's interaction in real time (and generating a corresponding EMF), but adding this "magnetic" flywheel inline causes the current flow to be delayed in the temporal space. Which manifests as a force that acts in a time-delayed manner on the moving magnet.
Integrating this force graph over the magnet's position, we observe a slight pull and push as the magnet approaches and recedes from the core, respectively. Ironically, in a standard motor, we do the opposite; we set up a current that leads the magnet's movement to generate torque, constantly combating the field's buildup. In this scenario, we don't resist the field; instead, we allow the current to lag, and as a result, we build up mechanical energy due to a temporal shift.
Since room-temperature superconductors aren't available yet, we must work with regular conductors. The concept of the transverse flux motor/generator (TFM/G) provides an elegant solution to this issue. Here, we could use a single large solid conductor as a single turn to significantly reduce resistance, ideally lowering resistive losses below the mechanical gains obtained from delaying the "induced" current.
I am excited to soon share an integrated design that encompasses all these elements. Just as importantly, the inductor, acting as a magnetic flywheel, must be finely tuned to ensure the current runs through it appropriately. If not correctly adjusted, it might either have minimal lag or completely dampen the current's amplitude, negating any potential benefits.
If this concept has been discussed before, I'd love to see any relevant links or references. Essentially, what I'm proposing is to add an inductor to a motor winding and let it push itself along due to a time asymmetry. Of course, there are design nuances to consider, like minimizing resistance as much as possible.
By introducing a time delay between the effects of the mechanical and magnetic world have on each other through a "magnetic flywheel," we break the symmetry in their energy interaction in the temporal space, transforming what would otherwise be a symmetrical equation.
Just to clarify this does not break the conservation of momentum or newtons third law. Angular momentum is conserved in fact the magnetic energy is too because the induced current will always have a fixed maximum aka the current that is needed to cancel out the effect the magnets have on the soft ferromagnetic crystals. The frequency can increase which it does if this thing self accelerates but the total needed current to cancel the "field" caused by the magnet does not. This is nice because it means that the current does not increase as RPM increases and therefore not bleed energy in the form of Joule heating due to the limited resistance of the conductor.
The only thing that is violated is the conservation of kinetic energy due to a temporal shift of the mechanical force.