Coupling of analytical and numerical methods for the electromagnetic simulation of permanent magnet synchronous machines

Abstract

Purpose

To reduce the computational costs for electromagnetic simulations of permanent magnet synchronous machines maintaining a high accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical model is introduced regarding multiple designs of permanent magnet synchronous machines. This electromagnetic model is coupled to a numerical simulation. Thereby, the advantages of both computational methods are combined by parameterizing the analytical model to the numerical solution. This results in a high‐efficient analytical model with the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The results of the analytical model are compared to measurements of a permanent magnet synchronous machine. Various machine modifications are simulated to evaluate possible limitations of the analytical model.

Findings

It can be stated, that a once parameterized analytical model achieves a high accuracy. Furthermore, geometric variations can be applied without the need of a new parameterization through a numerical simulation. Only changing the permanent magnet height or the air gap height results in a significant deviation and a new numerical simulation is recommended.

Research limitations/implications

Only measurements for machines up to 5 kW were available. In consequence, the model is only validatet in this range.

Practical implications

With the presented analytical model, an electromagnetic design of a permanent magnet synchronous machine can be performed very time efficient achieving accurate results. Furthermore, optimization studies can be performed with low‐computational costs.

Originality/value

The introduced analytical model can be parameterized by a numerical simulation. The numeric simulation process and the parameterization are performed automatically according to the data calculated by the analytical model. Measurements demonstrate the effectiveness and the limitations of the model.

Citation

Schöning, M. and Hameyer, K. (2008), "Coupling of analytical and numerical methods for the electromagnetic simulation of permanent magnet synchronous machines", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 85-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/03321640810836663