Title:  Electro-magnetic Modeling and Design Optimization of Synchronous Reluctance Machines and Single-phase Induction Motors

Committee: 

Dr. Habetler, Advisor   

Dr. Graber, Chair

Dr. Saaedifard

Abstract:

The objective of the proposed research is to develop the analytical electro-magnetic (EM) models for synchronous reluctance machines (SynRMs) and single phase induction motors (SPIMs), so as to generate the optimal designs to improve their performances. Rigorous EM model of the SynRM is accomplished by an analytical method based on Maxwell’s equations and nonlinear magnetic circuits that takes the saturation effect into consideration. Air-gap flux density of the SynRM has been calculated by the analytical model and verified by finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. Analytical design approach for SPIMs is also introduced based on the equivalent circuit model. The proposed analytical models for SynRMs and SPIMs are significantly faster than the prevalent design method based on FEA, thus provide fast-solving approaches during the optimal design process. Design optimization of SynRMs and SPIMs has the objective of maximizing torque density and efficiency, as well as minimizing torque ripple and cost. Evolutionary algorithms such as generic algorithms (GA), differential evolution (DE) algorithms and particle swarm optimizations (PSO) can be applied to solve the multi-objective optimization problem. The proposed research is expected to expedite the design optimization of SynRMs and SPIMs to an acceptable time length (less than an hour), while it may take days to solve when using the FEA-based method.