Multistatic Reluctance Network Modeling for the Design of Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machines

This paper deals with an original design methodology of permanent-magnet synchronous machines using multistatic reluctance-network (RN) modeling. Traditionally, RN models are based on using d - q axis components in order to calculate the fundamental values of the torque and the back-electromotive force (emf). In this study, the RN permits an angular rotation between the rotor and stator to thereby extract the magnitude of the harmonics which are necessary for better optimization results. Besides, three different methods of calculation of the air-gap reluctances are presented and applied to the RN. Then, simulation results are compared to finite-element analysis (FEA) in order to finally determine the best method. Ultimately, the proposed model shows precise and very fast results making it suitable for geometry optimization and to help designers obtain a better sense of machine behavior.