Impact of MMF Space Harmonic on Rotor Losses in Fractional-Slot Permanent-Magnet Machines

The fractional-slot permanent-magnet (PM) machines are used in many applications due to their high torque density, low torque ripple, and high efficiency. However, the fractional-slot machines are characterized by high contents of space harmonics in the air-gap MMF distribution. Such harmonics cause flux variation in the air gap, and the main consequence is the induced losses in the rotor. Depending on the combination of slots and poles of the machine, there are different harmonic contents and then rotor losses. By means of a simple model of the rotor losses, this paper investigates the link between the rotor losses and the combination of the slots and the poles of the fractional-slot PM machines.