Multidisciplinary Analysis and Multiobjective Design Optimization of a Switched Reluctance Motor for Improving Sound Quality

In this study, the design optimization method for improving sound quality (SQ) of a switched reluctance motor (SRM) is proposed. The multidisciplinary finite element analysis (FEA) of an SRM is performed to evaluate both average torque and the SQ metrics to design the rotor configuration of the SRM. Specifically, the magneto-static FEA of the SRM is used to evaluate the average torque which is the most important performance of motors, and the local force distribution applied to the stator. Also, the transient structural FEA of the stator excited by the local force distribution, and the transient acoustic FEA are conducted to get the sound pressure radiated by the vibration of the stator. Then, the SQ metrics of loudness, sharpness, fluctuation strength and roughness can be obtained from the radiated sound pressure. We define the correlation function between the SQ metrics and the jury test results of the different types of SRMs. The weighted sum of the torque and the correlation function is set as an objective function. After that, design optimization method of the SRM using a design of experiments is discussed. This study does not consider the nonlinear material properties and is based on 2D analysis; however, with all these limitations, note that this is the first study to propose an overall procedure to increase the SQ of an SRM.