In this work we proposed to study the use of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) for railway traction in the high-speed trains (HST) of Renfe Operadora (the Spanish national railway operator). Currently, induction motors (IM) are used in AVE classes 102–112 trains, so, the IM used as a traction motor in these trains has been studied and characterized by comparing the results with data provided by Renfe. A PMSM of equivalent power to the IM has been dimensioned, and different electromagnetic structures of the PMSM rotor have been evaluated. The simulation by the finite element method and analysis of the equivalent electrical circuit used in all the motors have been studied to evaluate the performance of the motors in this application. Efficiency is calculated at different operating points due to its impact on the energy consumption of railway traction. The implementation of the PMSM evaluated is recommended, mainly due to the improvements achieved in efficiency as compared with the IM currently used.

The prediction of switched reluctance motor (SRM) performance requires knowledge of core losses. However, the calculation of iron losses in SRM is especially complex first because the flux waveforms are nonsinusoidal and different parts of the magnetic circuit have different waveforms and second because they are conditioned by the type of control used. This study proposes an analytical method for calculating core losses that comprises simulation of the SRM using finite element analysis to determine the magnetization curves, and SRM modeling, which enables transient simulations with the associated electronic power converter run under different control strategies. The flux density waveforms in the different parts of the SRM are derived from the flux density waveform of the stator pole that is obtained from the transient simulation. The specific core losses (in W/kg) are separated into three parts (hysteresis losses, classical eddy current losses and excess losses) and calculated using the waveforms and time derivatives of the local flux density. The core losses for each part of the SRM's magnetic circuit can be estimated using the calculated values for specific hysteresis losses, specific classical eddy current losses and specific excess losses for each zone. Adding these individual losses yields the total core losses. The method was applied to three-phase 6/4 SRM, and the calculated results were compared with experimentally obtained measurements. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Herein is reported an application of life cycle analysis (LCA), using the Methodology for the Ecodesign of Energy Using Products (MEEUP), in order to assess the influence of some design parameters in the environmental impact of three-phase induction motors. A motor design procedure to minimize the total environmental impact, based on data obtained from commercial motors, is presented. This procedure is specially intended for the low power range due to the greater potential for energy savings in motors having an output power of 0.75 to 4 kW. A procedure has been developed, based on previously acquired data, to determine the parameters required for application of the MEEUP methodology. These comprise the quantity of each of the motor's main constituent materials used in the production phase, and the two operating variables that directly influence the LCA results: output power and efficiency. The procedure was applied to two 1.5 kW induction motors of different efficiency (according to standard IEC60034-2-1). The calculation results were compared satisfactorily with the laboratory test results. The total environmental impact of the two real motors and of the proposed motor was determined in the production, service life, and end-of-life phases. Given the potential for energy savings in electric motors, LCA-based environmental impact assessment should be incorporated into motor design.

In this paper a new type of hybrid reluctance actuator is presented. This linear hybrid reluctance actuator is a two phase double sided actuator in which the stator is composed by four normalized U cores, each with a coil wrapped around the yoke connecting the two arms of the core or with two coils wound on each of the arms and a permanent magnet placed near the air gap between and in contact with both arms. The mover is comprised of rectangular poles without connecting iron pieces between them but mechanically joined by non-magnetic mounting parts. The magnets are arranged so that their flux is in parallel to the flux created when the coils are energized, both fluxes are added and the total reinforced flux links the stator and the mover. But when no currents flow through the coils no flux crosses the air gap, and the flux of the magnets is closed through the back iron that supports them. An analysis and simulation of the motor using 2 D finite element and MATLAB Simulink is carried out. Finally, a comparison of this type of actuator with respect a linear reluctance stepper motor of the same size is shown.