This paper proposes a flux-intensifying permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motor (FI-PMa-SynRM) using surface-inset permanent magnet (PM) instead of embedded PM in the rotor. The proposed FI-PMa-SynRM employs a small amount of PM that is inset on the rotor surface facing d-axis instead of facing q-axis as in common PMa-SynRMs. It also differs from conventional flux-intensifying interior PM motor, where the PM is embedded inside the rotor. The proposed motor enables making use of the arrangements of two types of flux barriers (FBs): the cutoff FB and the magnet FB, collectively referred to the outer FBs, to enhance the torque output and reduce the torque ripple. The first objective in this paper is to explain the principles of the proposed FI-PMa-SynRM, and the second is to analyze the proposed technique for enhancement of the torque output with small PM volume while keeping the lowest possible torque ripple. The finite-element analysis is employed to validate the proposed motor and analyses, and the results demonstrate their advantages and effectiveness.

This paper analyzes the performance of a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) equipped with a limited amount of a permanent magnet (PM). This is conventionally implemented by inserting PMs in rotor flux barriers, and this is often called the PM-assisted SynRM (PMa-SynRM). However, common PMa-SynRMs could be vulnerable to irreversible demagnetization. Therefore, motor performance and PM demagnetization should be simultaneously considered, and this would require the PM to be properly arranged. In this paper, various rotor configurations are carefully studied and compared in order to maximize the motor performance, avoid irreversible demagnetization and achieve higher PM utilization. Moreover, the field weakening capability is investigated and improved by regulating armature excitation. A particular rotor type with flux intensification was found to possess higher PM utilization, lower demagnetization possibility with fairly high performance. Thus, suitable rotor configurations are recommended for certain applications.

This paper investigates the flux intensifying (FI) feature of permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor (PMa-SynRM) in order to achieve high torque density with a small amount of permanent magnet (PM). This motor is thus denoted “FI-PMa-SynRM”. The performance of the developed FI-PMa-SynRM is compared with that of two other counterparts, i.e., an inset surface permanent magnet synchronous motor (SPMSM) and a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) to highlight the strengths of the FI-PMa-SynRM. In addition, an analysis on partial demagnetization and torque density of the developed FI-PMa-SynRM is conducted to demonstrate its advantages. The finite element method (FEM) is employed for the analysis in terms of flux linkage and inductances so that the effectiveness of the FI characteristics is validated. The analysis shows that a high torque density (24.79 Nm/L or even greater) can be achieved with a small amount of PM (0.72% motor volume). The ability of anti-demagnetization is also fulfilled. Furthermore, experimental results are provided to validate the analysis findings.

This paper presents an analysis on the field weakening capability of a flux intensifying synchronous motor (FI-SM) with a small quantity of inset permanent magnets (PMs) on the rotor surface. Differing from other FI-SMs whose rotors are constructed by inter-weaving PMs and flux barriers (FBs), for the presented FI-SM, the PM dimensions can be easily adjusted without significantly altering the rotor configuration, thus offering more flexibility in rotor design and making it more feasible to analyze the influence of the added PM on flux density distribution, inductances, PM flux linkage, and field weakening capacities in conjunction with armature current. This paper, through investigating this design potential, aims to provide an approach for design and analysis of this type of motor to enhance the performance and improve the field weakening capability. Experiments are conducted to validate the simulation.