Investigation of PMSM motor performance with different magnet configurations and rotor surface profiling

Performance of interior magnet PMSM motor depends on the magnet shape and the flux guides in the rotor. Rotor surface profiling affects the reluctance in the machines thus changes the direct (Ld) and quadrature (Lq) axes inductances of the motor. Effects of different magnet configuration, rotor surface profiling and variations in flux guides on important performance parameters like output torque, torque ripple and cogging torque have been investigated in this paper. PMSM motor used in Toyota Prius 2004 has been used as standard motor. Total magnet volume in the motor has been kept constant to ensure that the change in the performance of the motor is only due to the factors under investigation. Change in direct and quadrature axes inductances with the change in rotor configurations are also reported in the paper. All different motor models have been analyzed with the finite element analysis tool Ansys Maxwell 14.0.0. It is found out that with different magnet configuration, it is possible to obtain a motor model with better performance than the standard Prius motor.