Interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) are widely utilized due to their high power density. However, noise and vibration issues are often encountered in these motors. While researchers have extensively investigated individual aspects such as noise, vibration, and heat generation in PMSMs, there has been a lack of comprehensive studies examining the interrelationships among these factors. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for predicting vibration by considering the radial force in the air gap as the exciting force, while also accounting for the changes in the permanent magnet (PM) characteristics caused by heat generation during motor operation. The method involves decomposing and identifying vibration components associated with each vibration mode and predicting noise based on the sound radiation efficiency of each mode. By constructing a vibration map based on current and temperature at a specific frequency, the components most affected by current variations and PM characteristics can be identified. This allows for the proposal of design improvements aimed at reducing vibration. Furthermore, by comparing the vibration map with the noise map, it is confirmed that vibration serves as a source of noise and influences its generation. However, it is found that vibration and noise are not strictly proportional. Overall, a comprehensive analysis of the correlations between vibration, noise, and other factors in IPMSMs is presented in this study. The proposed method and findings contribute to the understanding of the complex dynamics involved and provide valuable insights for the design of quieter and more efficient motor systems.

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) having high power density and high efficiency are rigorously researched in various premium applications. Among PMSMs, many studies have been conducted on interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) to improve torque ripple, but its accurate estimation is not straightforward. Therefore, a six-pole nine-slot (6p/9s) IPMSM is adopted as a base model due to its popularity in academia and industries, and other two pole/slot combinations (8p/12s and 10p/15s) are additionally selected to investigate the influence of a pole/slot combination on torque ripple. Torque performance is easily identified by analyzing tangential force due to their direct proportional relation. In this paper, magnetic flux densities in radial and tangential direction are systematically analyzed since tangential force is determined by the product of the two magnetic flux densities. The modification of a stator pole regarding its tip thickness is chosen as a key parameter in 6p/9s IPMSM. The thickness of a stator pole tip opposite to the direction of spin is more critical in torque ripple improvement. It is verified that the proposed method is sufficient for accurate torque prediction.

A sixteen-pole eighteen-slot (16p/18s) permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) developed in Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) for a vertical articulated robot is chosen as a reference model, and other two pole/slot combinations (20p/18s, 20p/24s) are together compared in terms of electrical and mechanical performance. Radial force density varying in time and space is decomposed through Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and vibration is calculated from the harmonics of radial force. The vibration of 20p/24s is best due to its mode of 4 among the three pole/slot combinations. Additionally, the variation of radial force density with respect to torque is compared between 16p/18s and 20p/18s. Despite the same number of slots in both motors, the slope of 20p/18s is greater than that of 16p/18s in radial force density due to the different number of poles. As a result, the vibration of 20p/18s is worse than that of 16p/18s.

Despite continuous effort to minimize torque ripple, the reduction of vibration has not been yet achieved due to the lack of link between these two performances. The difficulty of investigating the relationship stems from the fact that torque is solely influenced by tangential force whereas vibration is directly tied to radial force. In this paper, the correlation between torque ripple and vibration in an IPMSM (Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) is established by examining the air-gap flux density in both radial and tangential directions. Its temporal and spatial harmonics are analyzed. A six-pole nine-slot IPMSM is used as a base configuration, and the air-gap flux density is varied by changing the height of a stator tooth tip. In the previous study, the same approach has been done to observe how to reduce torque ripple effectively. In this study, however, it is found that the trend of torque ripple is not the same as that of vibration with respect to the height of a pole tip, and the relation between the two is thoroughly observed and explained.

This study investigates the influence of ferrite shape modifications on the performance and noise characteristics of an induction cooktop. The goal is to optimize the air gap dimensions between ferrites and cookware, enhancing efficiency while managing noise levels. Using finite element method (FEM) simulations, we analyze the spatial distribution of magnetic forces and their harmonics. Eight ferrite shape models were examined, focusing on both outer and inner air gaps. Model #8 (reduced outer air gap) and Model #9 (reduced inner air gap) were experimentally validated. Noise measurements indicated that Model #8 reduced 120 Hz harmonic noise components, while Model #9 increased them due to enhanced excitation forces. Current measurements confirmed that Model #9 achieved higher efficiency, with RMS current reduced to 94.54% of the base model. The study reveals a trade-off between performance and noise: inner air gap reduction significantly boosts efficiency but raises noise levels, whereas outer air gap reduction offers balanced improvements. These findings provide insights for optimizing induction cooktop designs, aiming for quieter operation without compromising efficiency.

In this study, the mechanism of vibration and noise is analytically investigated in an induction cooktop (IC). By employing the method of an electric motor in estimating its vibration performance, it is found that air-gap force normal to the glass surface is a main source in an IC. Three different types of a cookware in terms of its material are compared as a part of load, and the pattern of their vibration is scrutinized by means of a membrane. It is noted that the mode of vibration in an IC is the circular shape of a membrane. Spatial and temporal harmonics in normal force are obtained through a three-dimensional Fast Fourier transform. This study is focused on spatial harmonic orders in a cylindrical coordinate to determine the dominant mode of vibration, and experimental verification has been performed to prove the feasibility of this proposal.