AMFA Electric Motor
The world's first distributed, modular, real-time software-reconfigurable electric motor and generator, with the variable speed drive built inside the machine. From 30 kW to 3 MW+, air cooled, with no drive cabinet, no shielded cabling and one set of spares across the range. The same machine runs as a grid connected generator.
The Only Design that FundamentallyChanges the Architecture of the Electric Motor
AMFA is the only motor technology that carries the drive inside the machine all the way to megawatt scale. It is the first major redesign of the electric motor in over 100 years.
Variable Speed Made Simple
Electric motors consume 53% of global electricity, with most running at full power regardless of need. Varying the speed of the motor results in substantial energy savings, 50%+ savings in HVAC, 20 to 50% in mining, and 30 to 60% in industrial applications.Axiflux makes varying the speed of the motor easy, because the drive is already inside the motor. Installation is no more involved than a fixed speed machine. Efficiency matches a premium motor paired with a high end variable speed drive, in one machine instead of two.
The Drive Inside the Motor
AMFA integrates inverter and motor into a single package.This unique design enables direct AC to AC power conversion without a DC bus, reduces complexity, and provides built-in redundancy. If one module fails, others compensate, ensuring continued operation at full output.
Cost That Scales Linearly
Conventional machines scale by growing the windings and the silicon in the drive, so cost climbs disproportionately with power.AMFA scales by adding modules, so cost rises linearly. On large machines this removes a substantial proportion of the copper, and the saving is largest exactly where customers feel it most.
“The drive is no longer a cabinet on the wall. It is part of the machine, and it stays that way from 30 kW to 3 MW+.”
One MachineInstead of Two
A motor and a separate drive solve the problem in two boxes. AMFA solves it in one.
Traditional variable speed solutions are fundamentally limited by their separate motor and drive design, which creates inherent challenges that:
Our proprietary Adaptive Magnetic Flux Array represents a fundamental redesign of electric motor architecture that:
Efficiency is equal to a premium motor with a high end variable speed drive. Everything around it is different.
An unplanned stoppage becomes a scheduled maintenance item
Transforming Industries with AMFA
Variable speed, high availability and simple installation, from 30 kW to 3 MW+, across demanding sectors.
Mining
Mining Operations: variable speed ventilation, crushing and grinding without a drive cabinet underground. There are no electrolytic capacitors and heat is spread across the modules, so the machine runs reliably at high ambient temperature. A failed module is swapped during planned downtime from a common spares kit.
Impact: ventilation on demand and demand matched grinding, with an unplanned stoppage turned into a scheduled task.
Industry
Industrial Processes (Pumps, Fans, Compressors): variable speed at the machine, from 30 kW to 3 MW+, air cooled across the whole range. Direct drive removes the gearbox, and a single set of spares per voltage class services every Axiflux motor on the site.
Impact: lower installed cost, less inventory and working capital, and higher availability on continuous duty plant.
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC): full variable speed control with no drive cabinet in the plant room and no shielded cabling to run. The motor is a well behaved load, drawing unity power factor with minimal inrush and low harmonics.
Impact: removes capital cost and days from the project schedule, and eases site power quality compliance.
Energy Generation
The same machine that drives a load also generates into the grid, synchronising and exporting without a separate converter. Redundancy reduces turbine downtime. A module fault allows continued operation. Compact parts can be hand carried, minimising reliance on heavy cranes and cutting maintenance costs. Direct drive removes the gearbox, and with it the oil changes and a major failure point.
Impact: less time out of service, fewer crane movements, and lower maintenance cost over the life of the turbine.
Custom Direct Drive
A larger machine is simply more of the same modules in a different housing with a different shaft. Customer specific direct drive solutions are delivered with the lead time and qualification burden of a variant, not a new product programme.
Impact: an exact fit direct drive machine without a bespoke design exercise for every rating.
Core Technology Patented Innovation
AMFA's patented architecture represents a fundamental redesign of both motor and the power electronics that drive it
AMFA Technology Architecture
Distributed, modular, integrated motor and electronics with direct AC to AC power conversion
Distributed ArchitecturePatented
Intelligent modules within the motor provide redundancy and distribute workload for optimal performance and reliability.
Technical Specifications
- Module Redundancy, redundant modules as standard
- Distributed computing
- Real-time adaptation
Modular Motor ConstructionPatented
Inherently modular core architecture with coils and yokeless axial flux magnet arrays paired one to one with the electronic modules, so a larger machine is more of the same parts rather than bigger ones.
Technical Specifications
- Yokeless design
- Adaptive flux arrays
- Common modules across the range
Direct AC FunctionalityPatented
Modules perform AC to AC conversion without an intermediate DC bus, so there are no electrolytic capacitors, typically the life limiting component in lower cost inverters. The same conversion works in both directions, so the machine runs as a grid connected generator without a separate converter.
Technical Specifications
- No electrolytic capacitors
- Unity power factor and minimal inrush
- Low harmonic emissions
- Braking energy returned to the grid
- Grid connected generation from the same machine
Integrated Design (IP66)Patented
Power electronics and control sit inside the motor housing, so there is no drive cabinet, no shielded cabling and no separate drive to wire and commission.
Technical Specifications
- IP66
- Reduced footprint
- Simplified installation
Distributed Thermal ManagementPatented
Heat is generated across the modules rather than concentrated in one place, so the machine stays air cooled to 3 MW+ with no pumps, plumbing or coolant management, and without the hot spots that limit continuous rating.
Technical Specifications
- Air cooled across the range
- No liquid cooling loop
- High ambient capability
Scalability & RedundancyPatented
Standardised modules enable easy scaling from 30 kW to 3 MW+ while providing fault tolerance that allows continued operation even if a module fails, and cost that rises linearly with power rather than disproportionately.
Technical Specifications
- 30 kW to 3 MW+
- Built-in redundancy
- Modules replaced during planned downtime
- Common spares across the range
Direct DrivePatented
Modules are packaged into a housing and shaft matched to the load, so the machine couples directly to the driven equipment and the gearbox comes out of the train.
Technical Specifications
- Application specific housing and shaft
- Direct drive capability
- Gearbox elimination
Patent-Protected Technology
AMFA's technology architecture and control methods are protected by multiple granted patents
Technology ComparisonHow AMFA Measures Up
How AMFA compares with a motor and a separate drive, and with the integrated motor drives already on the market
| Feature / Metric | Fixed Speed Induction | Induction Motor + VSD | Induction Motor + VSD with active front end | Integrated Motor Drive (typical) | Axiflux AMFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power range | To 3 MW+ | To 3 MW+ | To 3 MW+ | Typically to 30 kW | 30 kW to 3 MW+ |
| Variable speed | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drive cabinet required | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Shielded cabling required | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cooling | Air | Air plus cabinet cooling | Air plus cabinet cooling | Liquid above 30 kW | Air across the range |
| Efficiency at rated load | High | High | High | High | High |
| Efficiency at part load | Very low | High | High | High | High |
| Power factor | Lagging | Near unity | Near unity | Near unity | Unity |
| Harmonic emissions | Low | High without filters | Low | Medium | Low |
| Braking energy | Not applicable | Dissipated in a braking resistor | Returned to the grid | Dissipated in a braking resistor | Returned to the grid |
| Grid connected generation | Not possible | Requires a regenerative drive | Yes | Rarely offered | Yes, the same machine |
| Operation after a drive fault | Not applicable | None | None | None | Continues at full output |
| Spares | Common | Drive specific | Drive specific | Manufacturer specific | One module set per voltage class |
| Cost scaling with power | Disproportionate | Disproportionate | Disproportionate | Disproportionate | Linear |
| System install complexity | Low | High | High | Low | Low |
| TCO | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Partner With UsFor Custom Solutions
Axiflux works directly with industry leaders to develop tailored AMFA solutions for specific applications and unique challenges.
- Custom motor designs for your specific requirements
- Co-development of direct drive machines for your equipment
- Direct drive machines built from standard modules in a custom housing
- Integration support for existing systems and products
Collaboration Areas
OEM Integration
Incorporate AMFA technology into your product lineup with our engineering support
Research Partnerships
Work with us on distributed drive architectures and direct drive applications
Customised Solutions
Develop specialised AMFA motors for your unique industry challenges