A design for improved performance of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor for hybrid electric vehicle

This paper investigates the layout of a magnet shape on the performance of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous motor. The motor is used in a hybrid electric vehicle. The IPM motor is a pancake shaped motor that has permanent magnets inside the rotor. The motor acts as a rotational electrodynamic machine between the engine and transmission. The main purpose of redesigning the shape of the magnet is to improve the motor performance, especially the back-emf wave form, the efficiency, and the rated torque, within a restricted volume. The electromagnetic performance of the conventional model and the proposed design is analyzed using the finite element method. The theoretical results have been confirmed by comparing them with experimental results for the back-emf wave form, the torque versus current characteristics, and the motor efficiency.