2-D Analysis Method for Synchronous Reluctance Motors Considering End-Plate Effect

This paper presents a 2-D analysis of synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs) considering the end-plate effect. In an electric machine with a laminated steel core, an end-plate is often attached to the rotor core to support the structural robustness of the machine. End-plates occasionally comprise carbon-steel, which changes the magnetic behavior of the electric machine. Thus, an electric machine that utilizes the 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) should be designed to consider the comprehensive magnetic flux path. However, the application of 3-D FEA for the whole design process is computationally expensive. Therefore, we proposed a 2-D FEA-based design strategy that can consider the additional magnetic path of the end-plate for SynRMs. The proposed analysis method was developed based on the magnetic equivalent circuit analysis and d- and q-axis flux linkage calculation. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by presenting the actual design case of a SynRM and via an experimental study.