Design of Ferrite Magnet Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motors for Electric Vehicle Applications

In general, motors are widely used in various consumer and commercial applications like Electric Vehicles (EVs). One of the most popular motor considered is Neodymium based Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), thanks to their high-power density. But Neodymium (NdfeB), being a rare earth material, PMSM's in general are not suitable for the long term sustainability. Now, this is where Synchronous Reluctance Motors (SynRM) are becoming popular. However, one of the disadvantages is their relatively low power density and power factor. To solve these problems, this paper explores the insertion of Ferrite magnets in the flux barriers of rotor to increase the power factor and also to get the interaction torque as well along with reluctance torque. This paper presents the design of four SynRM motors with power ratings of 3 kW, 5 kW, 12.15 kW, and 30 kW, detailing initial specifications, design processes, power and torque profiles, and power densities. Also, the detailed discussions on 2D model designs, slot plot combination, and output performance analysis will also be presented.