Design and Flux-Weakening Control of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for Electric Vehicles

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Yue Zhang, Wenping Cao, McLoone, Sean, Morrow, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2016; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Dynamics; Electric vehicles; Electrical vehicles (EVs); Finite element method; finite element method (FEM); flux weakening; Forging; Magnetic flux; Magnetism; Mathematical models; Matlab; Motors; Permanent magnet motors; permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs); Permanent magnets; Rotors; Synchronous motors; Torque; torque ripple; Traction motors
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2016.2594863
• ISSN: 1051-8223

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) provide a competitive technology for EV traction drives owing to their high power density and high efficiency. In this paper, three types of interior PMSMs with different PM arrangements are modeled by the finite element method (FEM). For a given amount of permanent magnet materials, the V-shape interior PMSM is found better than the U-shape and the conventional rotor topologies for EV traction drives. Then the V-shape interior PMSM is further analyzed with the effects of stator slot opening and the permanent magnet pole chamfering on cogging torque and output torque performance. A vector-controlled flux-weakening method is developed and simulated in Matlab to expand the motor speed range for EV drive system. The results show good dynamic and steady-state performance with a capability of expanding speed up to four times of the rated. A prototype of the V-shape interior PMSM is also manufactured and tested to validate the numerical models built by the FEM.