Smoothing the static torque characteristic of synchronous reluctance motor by Taguchi optimization method

This paper focuses on finite element based modelling and optimization of synchronous reluctance machines (SynRM). The primary objective of the study was to improve the static torque characteristic of SynRM by appropriate selection of rotor geometry using design of experiments (DOE) by Taguchi optimization method. The preliminary finite element based numerical model of a SynRM was built and parametric analysis of rotor geometry was performed in order to investigate the impact of number of magnetic flux barriers and their position and size on the resulting static torque characteristic. The acquired characteristics were processed by Fourier analysis in order to identify the content of higher harmonics responsible for the machine torque ripple resulted by each rotor geometry. The processed results were used for smoothing the static torque characteristic of SynRM using DOE by Taguchi optimization method. The design of experiments optimization method by Taguchi was successfully used and implemented for the optimization of the SynRM rotor geometry in order to improve its static torque characteristic. Based on the obtained results the guidelines are proposed for smoothing the static torque characteristic by selecting the appropriate rotor geometry, which may in turn significantly contribute to the reduction of the torque ripple of SynRM.