Two-Dimensional Analytical Models for Cogging Torque Prediction in Interior Permanent Magnet Machine

Analytical prediction of cogging torque needs accurate flux density and relative permeance closed-form expressions. The accurate two-dimensional (2D) air gap flux density distribution function and the 2D permeance function are currently almost always applied to surface-mounted permanent magnet (SPM) machines, instead of interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines, due to complications from IPMs severe magnetic saturation and leakage flux. To address these issues, this paper proposes a set of new methods to derive the accurate closed-form 2D expressions of IPMs for both flux density and relative permeance. As for the flux density 2D model, a virtual equivalence model for IPM is introduced, so that Laplace's equation and quasi-Poisson equation can be directly applied to IPM. As for permeance, the same virtual equivalence model also enables 2D models derivation for IPM. Subsequently, the resulting cogging torque analytical expression is obtained with the accurate relative permeance and air gap flux density models. The results from the proposed 2D analytical models showed similar accuracy to the finite element analysis (FEA). In addition, as demonstrated, the proposed 2D analytical models is a highly efficient tool set in the design process of cogging torque optimization, facilitating fast evaluation of different design factors.

Automated summary

To address complications from severe magnetic saturation and leakage flux, this paper proposes new methods to derive accurate closed-form 2D expressions for interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines. A virtual equivalence model is introduced to directly apply Laplace's equation and quasi-Poisson equation to IPM machines, leading to accurate flux density and relative permeance models. The resulting 2D analytical models show similar accuracy to finite element analysis (FEA) and are highly efficient in the design process of cogging torque optimization.