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This paper assesses the post-demagnetization performance of interior permanent magnet (IPM) ac machines by employing the more accurate recoil line approach based on a 2-D transient finite-element analysis (FEA). The method predicts continuous demagnetization of each magnet element undergoing partial demagnetization and evaluates the machine behavior after an event of short-circuit faults across its terminals. Along with the short-circuit faults, a failure in a drive controller or a position sensor, which may lead to a reverse voltage across the machine terminals that can eventually be more fatal and can cause significant reduction in the performance due to high levels of demagnetization, is analyzed as the worst case scenario. The FE predicted post-demagnetization performance is validated by experimental measurements in which a six-phase IPM machine designed for electric vehicle traction is allowed to lose its synchronization with the inverter when forced to operate on a torque–speed envelope, which is way beyond the drive voltage setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a novel multiphase permanent-magnet (PM) machine drive to enhance drivetrain availability in electric traction applications. It describes the development of new winding configurations for six-phase PM brushless machines with 18 slots and eight poles, which eliminate and/or reduce undesirable space harmonics in the stator magnetomotive force. In addition to improved power/torque density and efficiency with a reduction in eddy current loss in rotor PMs and copper loss in end-windings, the developed winding configuration also enhances availability of drivetrain, in a variety of applications requiring a degree of fault tolerance, by employing it as two independent three-phase windings in a six-phase interior-PM machine, which is designed and optimized for a given set of specifications for an electric vehicle, under thermal, electrical, and volumetric constraints. This paper also describes the design and development of a six-phase inverter with independent control for both sets of three-phase windings. The designs of the motor and the inverter are validated by a series of preliminary tests on the prototype machine drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6-phase fractional-slot-per-pole-per-phase interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine having a novel topology of 18-slot, 8-pole and a 6-phase, 48-slot, 8-pole IPM with distributed windings, both designed for a segment-A electric vehicle, are assessed for the risk of partial irreversible demagnetization under various fault conditions. This paper describes a more accurate approach of demagnetization assessment based on 2-D transient finite-element analysis. It is shown that due to the presence of low-order space harmonics in the fractional-slot IPM machine, the demagnetization risks across all pole pairs are different. Compared with the distributed wound machine, the fraction-slot machine is less vulnerable to demagnetization due to relatively high winding inductance, although its demagnetized regions are not uniform in each pole. It is also shown that although the demagnetizing current of one 3-phase short-circuit (SC) is greater than that of 6-phase SC, the resultant demagnetization risk is lower than that of 6-phase SC in the fractional-slotmachine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]