Design optimization for cogging torque mitigation in brushless DC motor using multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm based design optimization of Brushless DC (BLDC) motor with a view to mitigate cogging torque and enhance the efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The suitability of MOPSO algorithm is tested on a 120 W BLDC motor considering magnet axial length, stator slot opening and air gap length as the design variables. It avails the use of MagNet 7.5.1, a Finite Element Analysis tool, to account for the geometry and the non-linearity of material for assuaging an improved design framework and operates through the boundaries of generalized regression neural network (GRNN) to advocate the optimum design. The results of MOPSO are compared with Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II based formulations for claiming its place in real world applications.

Findings

A MOPSO design optimization procedure has been enlivened to escalate the performance of the BLDC motor. The optimality in design has been out reached through minimizing the cogging torque, maximizing the average torque and reducing the total losses to claim an increase in the efficiency. The results have been fortified in well-distributed Pareto-optimal planes to arrive at trade-off solutions between different objectives.

Research limitations/implications

The rhetoric theory of multi objective formulations has been reinforced to provide a decisive solution with regard to the choice of the design obtained from Pareto-optimal planes.

Practical implications

The incorporation of a larger number of design variables together with an orientation to thermal and vibration analysis will still go a long way in bringing on board new dimensions to the fold of optimality in the design of BLDC motors.

Originality/value

The proposal offers a new perspective to the design of BLDC motor in the sense it be-hives the facility of a swarm based approach to optimize the parameters in order that it serves to improve its performance. The results of a 120 W motor in terms of lowering the losses, minimizing the cogging torque and maximizing the average torque emphasize the benefits of the GRNN based multi-objective formulation and establish its viability for use in practical applications.

Citation

Nagalingam, U., Mahadevan, B., Vijayarajan, K. and Loganathan, A.P. (2015), "Design optimization for cogging torque mitigation in brushless DC motor using multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 1302-1318. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-07-2014-0162