Comparison between different ways to calculate the induced no-load voltage of PM synchronous motors using finite element methods

In this paper two different ways of calculating the induced no-load voltage of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM), by the use of a finite element method (FEM) program, have been compared. Neither of the two calculation methods require a FEM software package that can perform time-stepping. The number of required static FEM-calculations is limited to just a few, or even to one. The calculations are performed on five motor geometries. The results are compared to values obtained from time-stepping FEM-calculations, and to the measured induced no-load voltages of the five manufactured prototype motors. It can be seen that the least time-consuming method is accurate enough in most of these cases. The exceptions, in this study, are when there are relatively large airgaps and/or when the stator teeth are saturated.