Electromagnetic Analysis of a Synchronous Reluctance Motor With Single-Tooth Windings

This paper explores some of the key electromagnetic design aspects of a synchronous reluctance motor that is equipped with single-tooth windings (i.e., fractional slot concentrated windings). The analyzed machine, a 6-slot 4-pole motor, utilizes a segmented stator core structure for ease of coil winding, pre-assembly, and facilitation of high slot fill factors (~60%). The impact on the motors torque producing capability and its power factor of these inter-segment air gaps between the stator segments is investigated through 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) studies where it is shown that they have a low impact. From previous studies, torque ripple is a known issue with this particular slot–pole combination of synchronous reluctance motor, and the use of two different commercially available semi-magnetic slot wedges is investigated as a method to improve torque quality. An analytical analysis of continuous rotor skewing is also investigated as an attempt to reduce the torque ripple. Finally, it is shown that through a combination of 2-D and 3-D FEA studies in conjunction with experimentally derived results on a prototype machine that axial fringing effects cannot be ignored when predicting the q-axis reactance in such machines. A comparison of measured orthogonal axis flux linkages/reactances with 3-D FEA studies is presented for the first time.