Synchronous reluctance (SyR) and Permanent magnet Synchronous Reluctance (PM-SyR) machines represent an answer to the growing emphasis on higher efficiency, higher torque density and overload capability of ac machines for variable-speed applications. Their high performance is particularly attractive in electric traction and industry applications. The SyR technology represents a convenient solution to obtain high efficiency machines at reduced cost and high reliability. The manufacturing costs are comparable to other existing technologies such as induction motors. Different SyR and PM-SyR machines with different ratings and applications were designed, for comparison with induction motors having equal frame. An accurate comparison between Induction motors, SyR and PM-SyR machines is reported, with reference to the IE4 and IE5 efficiency specifications that could become mandatory in the next years.
Three studies are classified under the term ”Non-Conventional” machines:
Line-Start SyR motor: is a special SyR machine designed for constant speed applications, line supplied. The rotor flux barriers are filled with aluminum, to obtain a squirrel cage that resembles the one of an induction motor. The manufacturing costs are comparable to those of the induction motor, and the efficiency is higher. Two prototypes were realized and tested.
FSW-SyR: tooth-wound coils and fractional slot per pole combinations were investigated. They are of interest because they permit a simplification and higher degree of automatization of the manufacturing process. However, FSW-SyR machines are known for their high torque ripple, low specific torque and power factor. The number of slots per pole was optimized to maximize the torque density. Dealing with the torque ripple, a lumped parameters model was used together with optimization in SyRE. A design with minimized ripple was obtained, comparable to a distributed winding machine in this respect. This design was prototyped and tested.
Mild Overlapped SyR: this study shows a new winding configuration applied to SyR and PM-SyR machines. The proposed case is in the direction to find a hybrid solution between distributed winding and tooth winding motors, that permits to reduce costs and improve performances. One limitation of this solution is that only number of pole pairs equal to five or higher are feasible, and this reduces the applicability of the solution to classical industry applications, where one to three pole pairs are normally used
