Comparisons of three‐phase and five‐phase permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motors

This paper presents the comparison of three‐phase and five‐phase permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motors (PMa‐SynRM) in terms of their design and performance characteristics. With higher fault tolerant capability, efficiency, and reliability, the five‐phase PMa‐SynRM can be a better substitute when compared with the three‐phase PMa‐SynRM in critical applications where safety is top priority. In this study, for a fair comparison, same design procedure using in lumped parameter modelling is followed in developing the three‐phase and five‐phase PMa‐SynRMs. The models are optimised to minimise cost and maximise efficiency. For further detailed comparison of the three‐phase and five‐phase PMa‐SynRMs, two‐dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) is utilised. Performance characteristics such as torque pulsation, back electromotive force, flux linkage, d ‐ and q ‐axis inductances versus their respective currents, cogging torque, efficiency plot, and torque‐speed characteristics are intensively simulated through FEA. The optimised three‐phase and five‐phase PMa‐SynRMs are fabricated with the same power rating (3 kW) and same volume. Experimental tests are conducted on the prototypes to validate the simulation results.