A torque ripple analysis on reluctance synchronous machines

Abstract

Reluctance Synchronous Machines (RSM) have, due to their rotor geometry, an inherently high torque ripple. This torque ripple is defined as the deviation of the minimum and maximum torque from the average value. It is unwanted as it indicates uneven pull on the rotor causing deformation of it and hence different air-gaps along the rotor circumference as well as acoustic noise. In applications such as power steering, robotics and radar positioning systems where high precision movement is vital, oscillating torque will lead to the malfunction of these devices and therefore suppressed the use and development of RSMs. Unlike the Induction machine (IM), the RSM has no copper losses in the rotor, which reduces the operating temperature significantly. With the development of electronic drives the quality of the output torque could be improved by means of accurate current- and flux space phasor control methods with much success and made the RSM a possible replacement for the IM. However, reducing torque ripple by means of purely geometrical changes is still a challenge to the machine designer. This thesis will focus on the reduction of torque ripple while leaving the average torque relatively unchanged by changing the rotor geometry. The rotor changes will take place by means of flux barriers and cut-outs while the stator has either semi-closed slots or magnetic wedges. In this work rotor structures with equal harmonic magnitudes but their angles 1800 apart. will be combined to form one machine and identify how torque harmonics respond. The change in average torque and power factor will be evaluated with all geometrical changes made to these machines throughout this work.