Wojciech Szelag

This paper contains research on the development of a fault-tolerant six-phase synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) based on the stator adopted from a general-purpose three-phase induction motor. In the design and calculation process, an extended Clarke transformation was developed for a six-phase asymmetrical system. To verify the proposed design approach, a field–circuit model of electromagnetic phenomena in the studied motor was developed and used to study the motor performance. The increased torque value and reduction in torque ripples were confirmed by comparison to the classical three-phase SynRM design. To illustrate fault tolerance capabilities, the operation of the studied three- and six-phase synchronous reluctance motors under inverter-fault conditions was examined. The conducted analysis shows, among other things, that from the electromagnetic performance point of view, only the proposed six-phase machine is able to properly operate under inverter-fault conditions. The results of the winding design calculations, the performed simulations of six-phase motor operation, and the preliminary tests of the prototype motor are presented and discussed.

The paper presents a new cost-effective magnetic circuit structure of a coreless permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with 16 poles and 12 coils for a mass production fan drive unit. 2D and 3D numerical models of the coreless PMSM were developed. Optimisation calculations were carried out using the field model of the machine. Multistage calculations were performed using the professional FEM package, ANSYS Maxwell and the author’s proprietary finite element method (FEM) code. On the basis of the conducted tests and analysis of the obtained results, the “optimal” magnetic circuit structure of the PMSM motor was selected. The prototype motor was subjected to measurement to verify the developed models and the proposed design approach that takes advantage of finite element analysis (FEA).

This paper presents a new method of reducing the inrush current and improving the starting performance of a line-start permanent-magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM). The novelty of the proposed method relies on the selection of the time instant of the connection of the stator winding to the grid, for which the smallest values of the amplitudes of inrush currents are obtained. To confirm the effectiveness of the developed method of limiting the inrush current, simulations and experimental studies were carried out. The algorithm and dedicated computer code developed by the authors for the analysis of transient coupled phenomena in the LSPMSM were used to study the impact of the time instant of connection of the winding to the grid on the motor start-up process. The algorithm was based on a field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in the studied motor. To verify the developed model of the phenomena and the proposed method, experimental research was carried out on a purpose-built computerised test stand. Good concordance between the results of the experiments and simulations confirmed the high reliability of the proposed model, as well as the effectiveness of the developed approach in limiting the inrush current and improving the starting performance of LSPMSMs.

The paper presents a field model of coupled phenomena occurring in an axisymmetric magnetorheological brake. The coupling between transient fluid dynamics and electromagnetic and thermal fields as well as mechanical equilibrium equations is taken into account. The magnetic field in the studied brake is of an excited hybrid manner, i.e., by the permanent magnets (PMs) and current I_s in the excitation winding. The finite element method and a step-by-step algorithm have been implemented in the proposed field model of coupled phenomena in the considered brake. The nonlinearity of the magnetic circuit and rheological properties of a magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) as well as the influence of temperature on the properties of materials have been taken into account. To solve equations of the obtained field model, the Newton–Raphson method and the coupled block over-relaxation method have been implemented. The elaborated algorithm has been successfully used in the analysis of the phenomena in the considered magnetorheological brake. The accuracy of the developed model and its usefulness have been verified by a comparative analysis of the results of simulation and laboratory tests carried out for the developed prototype of the studied brake.

Purpose: This paper aims to elaborate the method and algorithm for the analysis of the influence of temperature on back electromotive force (BEMF) waveforms in a line start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM). Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents a finite element analysis of temperature influence on BEMF and back electromotive coefficient in a LSPMSM. In this paper, a two-dimensional field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in the LSPMSM was presented. The influence of temperature on magnetic properties of the permanent magnets as well as on electric and thermal properties of the materials has been taken into account. Simulation results have been compared to measurements. The selected results have been presented and discussed. Findings: The simulations results are compared with measurements to confirm the adequacy of this approach to the analysis of coupled electromagnetic-thermal problems. Originality/value: The paper offers appropriate author’s software for the transient and steady-state analysis of coupled electromagnetic and thermal problems in LSPMS motor.

For the analysis of the process of partial demagnetization of permanent magnets (PMs) in electric machines, a field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena was proposed. In the proposed approach the non-linearity of the magnetic circuit, the effect of temperature on the magnetic, electrical and thermal properties of the materials as well as the developed method for modeling the process of partial demagnetization of the PMs were taken into account. In order to verify the usefulness and effectiveness of the developed algorithm as well as software for analyzing the impact of temperature and the process of partial demagnetization of the magnets on the operation of a PM motor, the results of calculations were compared with the results of experimental studies. The experimental tests were carried out on a specially designed and constructed measuring test stand. The results of the research on the process of partial demagnetization of magnets in the line start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM) are presented and the conclusions resulting therefrom have been formulated.

The paper presents research on magnetic field exciters dedicated to testing magnetocaloric materials (MCMs) as well as used in the design process of magnetic refrigeration systems. An important element of the proposed test stand is the system of magnetic field excitation. It should provide a homogeneous magnetic field with a controllable value of its intensity in the MCM testing region. Several concepts of a magnetic circuit when designing the field exciters have been proposed and evaluated. In the MCM testing region of the proposed exciters, the magnetic field is controlled by changing the structure of the magnetic circuit. A precise 3D field model of electromagnetic phenomena has been developed in the professional finite element method (FEM) package and used to design and analyze the exciters. The obtained results of the calculations of the magnetic field distribution in the working area were compared with the results of the measurements carried out on the exciter prototype. The conclusions resulting from the conducted research are presented and discussed.

The paper justifies the validity of analyzing the impact of temperature and the process of partial demagnetization of magnets on the operating parameters of machines. To analyze this impact, a field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in a permanent magnet synchronous motor was proposed. The non-linearity of the magnetic circuit, the effect of temperature on the magnetic, electrical and thermal properties of the materials as well as the developed method of modeling the process of partial demagnetization of the magnet were taken into account. Based on this model, an algorithm and software were developed to analyze the effect of temperature and the process of partial demagnetization of magnets on the work of the line start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM). The elaborated software was used to study the effect of temperature during the motor starting phase on the magnetization state of the magnets after the start-up process. The calculation results were compared to the results of experimental studies. The experimental tests were carried out on a specially constructed test stand. The results of the research on the process of partial demagnetization of the magnets are presented and the conclusions resulting therefrom formulated.

This paper deals with the torque ripple minimization method based on the modulation of the phase currents of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive. The shape of the supply current waveforms reducing the torque ripple of the machine considered was determined on the basis of finite element analysis (FEA). In the proposed approach, the machine is supplied by a six-leg inverter in order to allow for the injection of zero sequence current harmonics. Two test PMSMs with fractional-slot concentrated windings (FSCW) and surface-mounted permanent magnets (SPMs) have been examined as a case study problem. Wide-range fractional analyses were performed using developed numerical models of the electromagnetic field distribution in the considered machines. The results obtained show that the level of torque ripple in FSCW PMSMs can be effectively reduced by the modulation of the phase currents under the six-leg inverter supply.

The paper presents an FE model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (LSPMSMs). An algorithm for solving equations of a discrete model using the FEM has been presented. On the basis of this algorithm the author’s personally developed software for the analysis of coupled electromagnetic-thermal phenomena in the LSPMS motors was elaborated. This software was used to analyze the start-up process of motors with identical stator and rotor magnetic circuits and different materials of the starting cage. The start-up process of motors with the squirrel-cage made of aluminum and copper was considered. The influence of temperature on the start-up process has been taken into account. The results of simulation tests were compared with the results of measurements.