Methods for predicting rotational iron losses in three phase induction motor stators

Iron losses in electrical machines are difficult to predict. Discrepancies between tested and calculated no-load core losses are sometimes large. In induction motors, a large portion of the stator core is subjected to flux that rotates in the plane of the laminations. Losses due to rotating flux differ from those observed under alternating flux conditions. This paper describes direct approaches for coupling rotational iron loss measurements with finite element analysis (FEA) results that yield the distribution of rotational flux in induction motor cores. Using these methods, the prediction of no-load core loss can be made to include the effects of rotational iron losses.