FAULT-TOLERANT AXIAL-GAP PERMANENT-MAGNET ELECTRIC MACHINE

An axial flux electrical machine has a permanent magnet rotor fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft and at least one stator having a plurality of polyphase windings disposed along a common axis with the shaft. An insulation layer is fixed between the polyphase windings. In a first example, the mechanical angle and electrical angle of each of the two polyphase windings is aligned. In a second example, the mechanical and electrical angle of each of the two polyphase windings is offset. A controller and at least one sensor are incorporated with the axial flux electrical machine for fault detection in each of the polyphase windings. Upon detection of a fault in one of the polyphase windings, the controller is configured to disable that polyphase winding allowing the electrical machine to operate with the remaining polyphase winding.