Impact of interior permanent magnet rotor design on signal injection based sensorless control and power conversion

This paper examines the relationship between rotor design and sensorless control and power conversion properties for four industrially relevant interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine configurations: 36 slot 6 pole stator with v bar rotor, 36 slot 6 pole stator with flat bar rotor, 9 slot 6 pole stator with v bar rotor, and 9 slot 6 pole stator with flat bar rotor. The influence of rotor geometric design variables over the range of current densities at the maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) angle were found using a design of experiments methodology and standardized regression coefficients. Tradeoffs between sensorless control and power conversion properties are found using a Monte Carlo methodology. Power conversion and sensorless control properties were found using hybrid static and time stepping finite element simulations.