Shape optimization-based design investigation of the switched reluctance motors regarding the target torque and current limitation

Abstract

This study presents a shape optimization framework that can determine the optimal rotor and stator shapes of the switched reluctance motors (SRM). The goal of design optimization is to adjust a torque profile to the target torque under the current limitation. For this purpose, the spline-based pole-shape representation and stator-fitted coil representation are implemented to precisely represent the complicated geometry of the SRM. Through linking the electromagnetic field analysis module (ANSYS Maxwell) and the electric circuit analysis module (ANSYS Simplorer), the performance of the SRM is evaluated with consideration of a high nonlinearity due to the magnetic saturation. Then, the shape optimization is extensively performed to quantitatively investigate a relation between the optimal shapes and target performance (i.e., average torque, torque ripple, and current limitation in this study). These numerical results provide an informative design guideline for determining the optimal rotor and stator shapes of the SRM to achieve a high average torque and a low torque ripple under the given current limitation.