PMSM Rotor Topologies for Automotive HVAC System

This paper analyzes in a comparative manner four permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) with different rotor topologies for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. PMSM has the advantages of small size, light weight, simple structure, reliable operation, high power factor, easy heat dissipation and easy maintenance. The rotor topologies including interior permanent magnets (IPM), surface permanent magnets (SPM), buried (spoke) permanent magnets and V-shape permanent magnets (VPM). The configuration of the PMSM is 18 slots and 6 poles, distributed winding. The considered application asks that the outer diameter and stack length of the machine stator, as well as the permanent magnets volume to be constant. The rotor topology is modified to investigate, via a two-dimensional (2D) transient finite element analysis (FEA), the electromagnetic performance (torque and cogging torque) and the efficiency of each topology.