Electric Machine Torque Performance using Segmented Rotor and PM Technology for Direct Drive Vehicle Application

The need for sustainable direct-drive electric motor in vehicle application is crucially significant at this time that fossil oil which has dominated in the transportation sector is getting depleted and possibly be used up in the days ahead. Vehicle propulsion is relied upon torque action to operate among other control drives. Electric motor which receives an input electrical energy and converts it into torque and speed has been developed for vehicle application with less heat loss and increased precision. It has also reduced total vehicle weight for reliability. Many motors have been developed which provided different torque ranges that need improvement for high performance. Flux switching machine (FSM) is a synchronous machine whose rotor does not contain any material which has an advantage of higher torque and speed than conventional machines. FSM uses two types of rotors such as salient pole rotor and segmented rotor. This paper presents an improved design of three-phase 24S/14P FSM using PM and segmented rotor for high torque performance. Choice of segmented rotor is due to less material usage, short end winding and generation of high flux necessary for high torque. The commercial JMAG Designer version 14, is engaged in the design and 2D-FEA of the motor to examine performances in terms of cogging torque, induced emf and torque. Finally, the average torque pulled by he improved design is 348.6 Nm representing 44% higher than the initial design, thus projecting it as a suitable candidate for direct drive.