Modeling and Characterization of Quadruple Three-phase Winding Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines

Fault-tolerant operation of an electric motor drive system is crucial for safety and reliability in the automotive and industrial applications. While dual three phase machines are the most commonly used machine topology to enhance the fault tolerant behavior, with most stringent requirements, there is a further need to investigate quadruple three-phase winding machines for the same. Hence, it is essential to obtain a detailed mathematical model of the machine including interwinding coupling effects to achieve high bandwidth torque generation. This enables optimal current command generation and improves dynamic current control characteristics. This paper presents detailed analytical models for fractional-slot dual-wound (FSDW) and quadruple (quad)-wound (FSQW) permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM), considering various slotpole configurations. Through Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a thorough characterization is conducted, obtaining various machine parameters. Utilizing FEA results, a quad-wound PMSM is prototyped and subjected to experimental characterization to obtain the machine parameters. A detailed comparison between the simulation and experimental results, analyzing the differences is presented.