Sound power radiated from an inverter driven induction motor II: Numerical analysis

The numerical simulations for predicting the sound power of electromagnetic origin from an inverter driven induction motor are described. Three numerical models are developed: a 2D electromagnetic force model using the finite-element method (FEM), a 3D FEM structural model, and a 3D acoustic model based on the boundary-element method (BEM). The validation of the FEM structural model and the BEM acoustic model is discussed. The sound power as well as the sound pressure field produced by the motor driven under various conditions is analysed. Results show that FEM and BEM can be effectively employed to analyse the vibro-acoustic behaviour of an inverter-driven induction motor.