Magnetic field analysis of a squirrel cage induction motor considering rotor skew and higher harmonics in the secondary current

This paper describes a method to analyze harmonic magnetic fields of squirrel cage induction motors considering rotor skew and higher harmonics in the secondary current. The proposed method is based on a two-dimensional finite element method. The rotor skew structure is expressed by multiple 2D finite element mesh models, produced in suitable axial positions, and the magnetic field in each mesh model is calculated by the revised secondary current taking into account the skew effect. The secondary currents, magnetic flux densities, and electromotive forces are calculated by the proposed method. Then the differences between a skewed rotor and a nonskewed rotor are discussed. From the comparison between the calculated and the experimental results, the proposed method is shown to be appropriate and useful for quantitative estimation of harmonic components of induction motors. (C) 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(2): 98-109, 1999.