Abstract

This paper reviews the recent developments of semi-analytical subdomains modeling techniques to compute the flux density distribution in electrical machines by the exact solving of Maxwell equations. It is shown that with an appropriate development methodology and numerical implementation, these harmonic models break the traditional compromise between accuracy and computation time that must be done using finite element or other analytical methods. Besides that, subdomains model development techniques have improved to overcome its topological limitations This fact is demonstrated on three different subdomains models in comparison with finite element methods in terms of accuracy and processing time. The first one is a subdomains model of a surface permanent-magnet synchronous machine, the second one is for an inset permanent-magnet synchronous machine, and the third one is for a squirrel-cage induction machine. Thanks to an efficient implementation method, a very low computation time is obtained. The robustness of the subdomains on the geometrical assumptions is also demonstrated.

Preprint and full paper

The full paper can be found on IEEE.

The preprint can be downloaded here:

A review of subdomain modeling techniques in electrical machines

The ICEM poster can be downloaded here:

Poster of “A review of subdomain modeling techniques in electrical machines”, ICEM 2016

Notes

Subdomain modeling techniques have been implemented and optimized in MANATEE software for permanent magnet synchronous machines (inner or outer rotor, surface, buried or inset magnets) and induction machines, with any winding type (integral or fractional). Even when the polar geometry assumption is not fully satisfied, the method gives excellent results for the calculation of the airgap flux distribution and can therefore be applied to calculate magnetic noise and vibrations of electric machines.