Electromagnetic modelling of high speed induction motors

The finite element (FE) modelling method has become the predominant tool in the design of electrical machines due to its ability to deliver accurate and reliable results because of its suitability to model the complex structure of the machine. A multi-layer analytical model however is particularly well suited to the simple rotor constructions used in very high speed induction motors. The multi-layer model is fast and accurate and is a useful design tool for high speed motors. This paper provides a detailed description of the method and its implementation. The paper shows how to adapt the method to operate from a voltage source. The layer model is compared with a conventional 2D FE model and the results for a high motor show very good correlation.