Computer aided models for the characterization of synchronous reluctance motor drive systems

Abstract

A computer aided model is used to predict the performance characteristics of synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) drives. The approach indirectly couples a two dimensional (2D) nonlinear finite element (FE) model, which accounts for magnetic saturation and space harmonics, to a time variant state space model describing the SynRM drive system. The effects of various modes of excitation on the axially laminated anisotropic (ALA) rotor synchronous reluctance motor drive system performance characteristics are studied. The simulation results are also validated by comparison to test data of a prototype ALA rotor SynRM drive system.