Design Optimization of Synchronous Reluctance Machines for Railway Traction Application Including Assembly Process Constraints

This paper presents the coupled electromechanical design of a synchronous reluctance machine. The purpose of the study is to decide whether such motor could substitute usual induction machines in railway traction applications. Reluctance machines are indeed competitive for applications requiring high efficiency at low cost. However, it is a challenging task to find design solutions that ensure structural integrity of the motor without compromising its overall performance, in particular in the presence of optimized flux barriers in the rotor. The design strategy presented in this paper is a combined electromagnetic and structural optimization, the latter accounting not only for the centrifugal force but also for the overstress due to manufacturing.