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Purpose: During the design process of synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs), one crucial step, after its main dimensioning, is optimizing the rotor geometry for maximum average torque and minimum torque ripple. However, because of the complexity of rotor flux-barrier layers geometry, the number of rotor geometrical parameters is high and this step could be quite complex and time-consuming. To obtain a good performance, one needs a robust algorithm to optimize the rotor geometry. The purpose of this paper is to present a sequential iterative method for rotor shape optimization in SynRMs based on the per-unit rotor model to maximize the average torque and minimize the torque ripple. Design/methodology/approach: In the presented method, at first, rotor geometrical parameters are classified into several groups based on their geometrical similarities, and then optimization is done on these individual groups iteratively. The method starts with an arbitrary feasible rotor geometry and proceeds to optimize it. Because the method's performance depends on initial rotor geometry, different cases are studied to investigate the convergence and robustness of the method. The MATLAB software is used to implement the optimization algorithm, and the ANSYS Maxwell software is used for the finite element analysis. Findings: The performance of the proposed method is studied on a three-phase 0.75 kW-1,500 rpm permanent magnet assisted SynRM. The results show that the method improves the average torque while reducing the torque ripple. Even if the method starts with an inappropriate initial rotor geometry, it is robust enough and converges within an acceptable number of iterations. Originality/value: The value of this paper is in introducing a per-unit rotor model. When the authors optimize the rotor geometry for a specific motor rating, it can be scaled up or down for other ratings with little effort. In this work, the number of rotor poles is four and the number of rotor flux-barrier layers per pole is three. Other combinations could be analyzed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a multi-material topology optimization method for permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motors. Design/methodology/approach: In the proposed method, the optimization procedure consists of two steps. In the first step, the entire rotor area was selected for the design region and the distribution of the core and air materials was optimized. In the second step, the design region was limited to the air region of the former solution and the distribution of magnets and cores or magnets and air was optimized. Findings: Because of the two-step process of the proposed method, the design parameters can be reduced compared to the conventional method. As a result, this study can prevent the solution space from becoming more complex and superior solutions can be founded effectively. Research limitations/implications: Since limited case study is denoted in this paper, much more case studies, for example, three-dimensional optimization problems, are needed to be discussed. Practical implications: The optimal solutions obtained by the proposed method have a smaller magnet volume and higher average torque than that of the conventional method. Originality/value: In the proposed methods, optimization methodology, which consists of two-steps process, is differed from the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to propose the model for analyzing the electromagnetic performances of permanent magnet vernier machines (PMVMs) under healthy and faulty conditions. Design/methodology/approach: The model uses interconnected reluctance network formed based on the geometrical approximations to predict magnetic performances of the machine. The network consists of several types of reluctances for modeling different parts of machine. Applying Kirchhoffs laws in the network and the machine windings, magnetic and electrical equations are obtained, respectively. To construct the model system of equations, the electrical equation is converted into algebraic form by using the trapezoidal technique. Moreover, the system of equations must be solved by Newton–Raphson method in each step-time because of considering the core saturation effect. Findings: The proposed model is developed based on the modified magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) method, in which the number of flux paths in different parts of the machine can be arbitrary selected. The saturation effect, skewed slots, the desired machine geometrical parameters and various winding arrangements are included in the proposed model; therefore, it can evaluate the time and space harmonics in modeling the PMVMs. Furthermore, a pattern for inter-turn fault detection is extracted from the stator current spectrum. Finally, 2 D-finite element method (FEM) and 3 D-FEM analysis are carried out to evaluate and verify the results of the proposed MEC model. Originality/value: Generally, the element numbers have important role in modeling the machine and calculating its performance. Hence, the proposed MEC model's capability to choose desired number of flux paths is advantage of this paper. Moreover, the developed MEC can be used for analyzing several electrical machines, including other types of vernier machines, with simple modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a comparison between reluctance synchronous machine-enabling work at high internal temperature (HT° machine) with laminated and solid rotor. Design/methodology/approach: To obtain heat sources for the thermal model, calculations of the electromagnetic field were made using the Opera 3D program including effect of rotation and the resulting eddy current losses. To analyse the thermal phenomenon, the 3D coupled thermal-fluid (CFD) model is used. Findings: The presented results show clearly that laminated construction is much better from a point of view of efficiency and temperature. However, solid construction can be interesting for high speed machines due to their mechanical robustness. Research limitations/implications: The main problem, despite the use of parallel calculations, is the long calculation time. Practical implications: The obtained simulation and experimental results show the possibility of building a machine operating at a much higher ambient temperature than it was previously produced for example in the vicinity of the aircraft turbines. Originality/value: The paper presents the application of fully three-dimensional coupled electromagnetic and thermal analysis of new machine constructions designed for elevated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to propose an effective method to verify poles polarities of switched reluctance motors (SRMs). Different from the ways of detection poles polarities by permanent magnet in SRMs, the difference of self-inductance between different winding connections is used to verify the pole polarity. Design/methodology/approach: First, the winding connections with the forward and reverse series are proposed. The magnetic circuit models are established to analyze the flux linkage of different winding connections. Then, according to the difference of inductance characteristics, including the self-inductance and the mutual inductance affected by the adjacent poles, it is theoretically feasible to verify the polarity of each pole. Finally, the proposed method is verified by the simulation and experiment on a six-phase SRM. Findings: First, compared to the reverse series, the forward series can produce larger self-inductance when one phase is excited at the same current excitation, which can be used to verify the poles polarities of one phase with different winding connection. Second, the mutual inductance can be used to distinguish the winding connections. Third, the difference of the maximum self-inductance of the winding, which is composed of two adjacent windings, can be used to verify the polarities of the adjacent poles. Originality/value: This paper proposes an effective method to verify poles polarities of SRMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to comparatively study a synchronous reluctance machine (SynRM) and a permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance machine (PMASynRM) as alternatives of the interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM), and to investigate the performance and conclude both advantages and disadvantages. Design/methodology/approach – A unified mathematical model is established for the IPMSM, SynRM and PMASynRM. Then finite element method (FEM) is used to compare the electromagnetic performance. Permeability-frozen method is utilized to distinguish basic electromagnetic torque and reluctance torque. Findings – The PMASynRM can improve the power factor of the SynRM, overcome the drawback of the IPMSM in the high-speed flux-weakening region and is more proper to operate over a wide speed region. The SynRM is mechanically robust for lacking of the permanent magnets, and the PMASynRM can keep similar rotor stress as the SynRM by optimizing the magnets. Assembly of the SynRM is the simplest, and the economic performance of the SynRM and PMASynRM could be much better than the IPMSM which even uses ferrite magnets. Practical/implications – The SynRM can produce identical torque and efficiency compared with the IPMSM except the poor power factor. The poor power factor could be improved by adopting the PMASynRM, which is proved to be able to act as an alternative of the IPMSM for low-cost high-performance application. Originality/value – This paper provides the theoretical model of the IPMSM, SynRM and PMASynRM in a unified format. The electromagnetic, mechanical and economic performances of the three kinds of synchronous motors are compared comprehensively. Then, both the advantages and disadvantages are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]