Torque Ripple Reduction of Reluctance Torque Assisted Motors Using Asymmetric Flux Barriers

Abstract

Interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) is efficient and can be operated in wide speed region; therefore it is used widely. However, torque ripple of reluctance torque assisted motors, for example IPMSM and synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM), is very large. The skew is known in the prior art as a torque ripple reduction method of AC motors. Although the skew is effective for torque ripple reduction, structure is complicated and it has the disadvantage that average torque will decrease. The discontinuous variation of magnetic resistance between flux barriers and teeth cause the torque ripple. In this paper, in order to ease the discontinuous variation of magnetic resistance, flux barriers are asymmetrically designed so that the relative position relation between flux barriers and teeth may not be in agreement as much as possible. As a result, the torque ripple can be reduced dramatically without the average torque decrease. The experimental motor has been fabricated and the results of measuring torque ripple prove the validity of the torque ripple reduction using asymmetric flux barriers.