Dynamically Reconfigurable Motor Technology for High Density and High Efficiency HEV Drives without Rare-Earth Materials

Dynamically reconfigurable motor (DR Motor) technology is an integrated drive with fast and smooth adjustment of pole numbers of induction motors, to obtain a high torque at low speed without sacrificing efficiency and power rating at high speed. The DR motor is designed to generate torque efficiently at multiple harmonics corresponding to multiple pole numbers, and its magnetic circuit is decided by the highest-pole-count configuration for high torque density. A low-pole-count-configuration for normal operation achieves high efficiency and high power density across a wide speed range. FEA simulation shows close to 50% torque/power density improvements compared with state-of-the-art induction motors in electrical and hybrid traction drive applications.