Analysis and Suppression of Spoke-Type Permanent Magnet Machines Cogging Torque with Different Conditions for Electric Vehicles

Spoke-type permanent magnet (STPM) machines have high power density and low cost due to flux concentrated effect and high air-gap flux density, but they can cause high cogging torque and torque ripple. To reduce the cogging torque, the analytical model considering a rotor slot is established and compared with the finite element mothed (FEM). Then, the cogging torque production mechanism is revealed and analyzed under different conditions, which provides direction to optimize the cogging torque STPM machines. The harmonic content of cogging torque under different conditions is obtained based on the freezing permeability (FP) method. It is found that the fundamental waves mainly generate the cogging torque under a no-load condition, and it is mainly generated by the second harmonics under an on-load condition. In addition, the optimization method is introduced and researched, including rotor slot width, uneven rotor core, and so on. Finally, a 50 kW STPM machine prototype is manufactured and tested to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the analysis method.