Optimal design of a salient poles permanent magnet synchronous motor using geometric programming and finite element method

An optimal design of a salient poles permanent magnets synchronous motor is presented. Firstly, a multivariable optimization process is performed by geometric programming method in order to minimize the total cost of the motor. Then a finite element method is used to evaluate recursively the motor torque. This methodology is applied to the optimal design of a three-phase, 5 Hp, 1800 rpm salient poles permanent magnet motor. The results show that the proposed methodology is fast and reliable and allows obtaining a very accurate torque evaluation and a great flexibility to observe how the motor optimal design varies with the specifications.