2018 X International Conference on Electrical Power Drive Systems (ICEPDS)
Synchronous reluctance motor: Design and
experimental research
Zakharov A.V.
JSC “NIPTIEM”
Vladimir, Russia
e-mail: zaharovav@ec.vemp.ru
Мalafeev S.I.
Dept. of science research
Joint Power Co. Ltd
Moscow, Russia
e-mail: sim_vl@nm.ru; sim@jpc.ru
Abstract — In this paper, the results of development and
experimental research of a synchronous reluctance motor
(SynRM) SRM160М6ie2 are presented. The design of the
machines was carried out in JSC “NIPTIEM” using a
technique based on the use of finite element modeling of the
magnetic field. Experimental research of the main
characteristics of the synchronous reluctance electric motor
powered by electric network and frequency inverter, is carried
out in the testing center JSC “NIPTIEM”. Comparison of the
characteristics SynRM and induction motor (IM)
7AVER180M6ie2 development of JSC “NIPTIEM” showed
advantages of SynRM in terms of energy, weight and overall
dimensions. On the basis carried out research, are formulated
the basic directions of works on development and industrial
use of SynRM.
Keywords — synchronous reluctance motor, drive, motor
construction and characteristic.
I. INTRODUCTION
Synchronous reluctance motor or synchronous electric
motors with anisotropic magnetic conductivity of the rotor,
– perspective electromechanical energy converters for
modern mechatronic systems [1 - 4]. Main advantages of
SynRM – a simple design of the rotor and motor in general,
the absence of windings and permanent magnets on the
rotor, a small moment of inertia of the rotor. Through the
absence of windings on the rotor, the machines have a high
efficiency, are characterized by a smaller value of
overheating of the stator winding and bearing assemblies,
what meets the requirements of energy efficiency standards
[5]. The design of SynRM ensures maximum unification of
the production technology with induction motors.
The design and principle of operation of the synchronous
reluctance motor have been known since the beginning of
the last century [6, 7]. However, its widespread use began at
the end of the twentieth century in connection with the
evolution of the power electronics. The leader of companies
that mastered the production of SynRM, we can name the
ABB Company, which since 2012 among its products line
of SynRM with a power of 17 to 350 kW [8]. ABB declares
that in the drive system with SynRM compared to an
induction drive with a motor of the same size with a high
energy efficiency class IE2 according to GOST IEC 6003430-1-2016, the losses are reduced by 10 ... 20%. If you save
the energy efficiency class of the electric machine, it
becomes possible to reduce the overall size of the electric
motor by one step in the height of the axis of rotation.
The use of SynRM in Russian developments is
constrained by the lack of mass production of machines. For
978-1-5386-4713-4/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
Dudulin A.L.
Dept. of IT and radio electronics
Vladimir State University named after
A. and N. Stoletovs
e-mail: ark.dd@yandex.ru
successful application of new motor in different systems, it
is required to perform a theoretical research and to obtain
the experimental data about characteristics and features of
SynRM as compared to other types of machines: induction
motor, synchronous motors with permanent magnet,
switched reluctance motors and others.
In this paper, the results of the development and
experimental research of a synchronous reluctance motor
with the rated power of 18.5 kW, made in JSC Electric
Machines
Research
and
Development
Institute
(“NIPTIEM”), Vladimir, are presented.
II. MOTOR CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL DATA
The design of the synchronous reluctance motor are
developed using a technique based on finite element
simulation of the magnetic field [9, 10]. The design of the
SRM160М6ie2 motor is shown in Fig. 1.
Research and development of the Synchronous reluctance
motor and drive were started in NIPTIEM in 2015 in order
of Krylov State research center, St. Petersburg. As part of
this work, the structures with Axially Laminated
Anisotropic (ALA) rotor technology and Transversally
Laminated Anisotropic (TLA) rotor technology were
investigated, machine design methods were defined,
methods for measuring the efficiency and other energy
parameters of the machine were developed. In addition, the
effective parameters of the radial geometry of the rotors of
synchronous reluctance motors focused on their use in
conjunction with the stator from the induction motor series
7AVER were. An important problem solved in the design of
the motor was to reduce the torque ripple and increase the
power factor. This problem was solved using the finite
element method in the simulation of the magnetic field of
the machine [10].
Basic technical data of the SynRM: mechanical power
P2 =18.5 kW, RMS value of the rated line voltage U n =290 V,
rated voltage frequency f=50 Hz, rated phase current I n =54 A,
cosφ = 0.749,
efficiency = 90.4%,
nominal
torque
M n =177 Nm at a speed of 1000 rpm, the number of poles is
2p = 6. The height of the axis of rotation is 160 mm, weight
132 kg. The decrease in voltage relative to the standard is
explained by research objectives, and was made to increase the
multiplicity of the maximum torque with the voltage limit
generated by the standard frequency inverter.
III. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH SYNRM
Experimental research were conducted in the testing
center of JSC “NIPTIEM”. During the experiments, the
main energy characteristics of SynRM were determined.
Motors powered by electric network and frequency inverter
different manufacturers. The greatest interest are the
characteristics of the SynRM when powered by the ABB
frequency inverter type ACS880-01-077A-5 + N7502,
which provides sensorless control over the frequency of
rotation of the synchronous reluctance motor. During the
experiments, the modes of acceleration, reversal rotation,
and stopping were checked. The electric drive showed stable
rotation under rated and double torque up to 60 rpm, as well
as reversal. The electric drive provided high-speed pickup of
the rotating electric motor at any speed of rotation within the
permissible range.
3. The idling mode is realized with the magnetic flux of
the electric motor, which is 70% of the nominal value.
TABLE 1. OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DRIVE WITH SYNRM
DURING CONFIGURATION ( U n =300V, I n =54A FOR TUNING)
cos ϕ
М,
Nm
P2,
kW
U, V
I, A
41
4.3
226
20
0.6
4.77
90.6
78
8.3
273
29
0.66
9
91.8
114
12.1
300
37
0.69
13.17
92.1
147
15.6
320
44
0.7
16.95
92.0
P1,
kW
Efficiency, %
177
18.8
330
50
0.7
20.43
91.8
204
21.7
341
57
0.7
23.7
91.5
228
24.0
349
62
0.7
26.4
91.1
250
26.5
355
67
0.7
29.19
90.9
270
29.0
360
72
0.7
32.01
90.7
289
31.1
358
76
0.7
34.41
90.5
TABLE 2. OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DRIVE WITH SYNRM
DURING CONFIGURATION ( U n
a
=260V, I n =62A FOR TUNING)
cos ϕ
М,
Nm
P2,
kW
U, V
I, А
76
8.0
271
28
0.66
8.8
91.8
145
15.2
319
43
0.69
16.5
92.0
175
18.5
334
50
0.7
20.2
91.7
203
21.4
344
56
0.7
23.4
91.5
227
24.2
353
62
0.69
26.6
91.2
250
26.5
355
67
0.69
29.1
90.9
270
28.8
354
72
0.7
31.8
90.7
290
30.8
352
76
0.7
34.0
90.4
P1,
kW
Efficiency, %
TABLE 3. OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DRIVE WITH SYNRM
DURING CONFIGURATION ( U n
b
Fig. 1. Synchronous reluctance motor SRM160М6ie2: a - general view of
the constructions; b - rotor
The operating characteristics were removed when tuning
to different nominal parameters (Tab. 1 – Tab. 3) which
showed:
1. The invertor settings do not have a significant effect
on the power characteristics of the drive.
2. The efficiency of the electric drive is provided by the
automatic adjustment of the control system, in which the
inductances of the winding of the SynRM are determined
exactly.
=350V, I n =46A FOR TUNING)
P1,
кВт
Efficiency, %
М,
Nm
P2,
kW
U, V
I, A
cos ϕ
75
8.0
271
28
0.67
8.7
91.8
142
15.2
318
42
0.7
16.5
92.2
174
18.5
332
50
0.69
20.1
91.8
202
21.4
344
56
0,7
23.4
91.5
227
24.3
355
62
0.69
26.6
91.2
250
26.5
359
67
0.69
29.2
90.9
271
29.2
358
72
0.7
32.2
90.7
290
31.2
356
77
0.7
34.5
90.4
The experimental dependence of current on load moment
of the SynRM are shown in Fig. 2. On the Fig. 3
experimentally obtained dependences of the SynRM current
and voltage on the load are shown.
The experimental results obtained using a Sensorless
Converter showed a decrease in the power factor relative to
its maximum possible value of 0.75 obtained in the system
from the tick position of the rotor.
In Tab. 4 shows the technical data of two motors:
SRM160М6ie2 и 7AVER180M6ie2.
η
M
P2
Fig. 2. The Dependence of current on load moment of the SynRM
( U n =300V, I n =54A)
a
cosϕ
P2
Fig. 3. The Dependences of current and voltage on load of the SynRM
( U n =300V, I n =54A)
P2
b
Fig. 4. The Dependences of Efficiency η (a) and power factor
cos ϕ (b)
on load of SynRM and IM
IV. COMPARISON SYNRM AND INDUCTION MOTOR
Comparison of the characteristics of the SynRM was
carried out with an induction motor 7AVER180M6ie2
development of JSC “NIPTIEM”, manufactured at “
Vladimir Electro Motor Plant”, Ltd («VEMP»). Main
technical data of the motor: P2 =18.5 kW; U n =380 V; f=50
Hz; I n =37 A; cos ϕ =0.875; efficiency η = 89.5%;
M n =180 Nm; 2p=6. The height of the axis of rotation
180 mm, weight 169 kg.
Comparative energy characteristics of induction and
synchronous reluctance electric motors, obtained in
experiments with power from AC current network, are
shown in Fig. 4.
Ratio of the component power loss ( PCu1 , PCu 2 –
electric losses in the stator and rotor windings, PFe –
PCu1 PCu 2 PFe Pad Pmec Psum
Fig. 5. The ratio of the power components of losses SynRM and IM
magnetic losses in the stator core, Pmec – mechanical
losses, Pad – additional losses, Psum – summary losses) for
induction motor and SynRM for the nominal operating
mode is shown in Fig. 5. Electric losses were determined on
the basis of the measured values of current and resistance,
magnetic losses were calculated in idle mode at the value of
the magnetic flux corresponding to the nominal mode
according to IEC 60034-2-1:2007.
V. PROSPECTS OF USE SYNCHRONOUS RELUCTANCE MOTOR
The analysis of the features of characteristics a
synchronously-controlled electric drive has shown their
advantages over a frequency-controlled electric drive with
induction electric motors in mass-size and adjusting
characteristics. This allows us to recommend the use of
electric drives with synchronous reluctance motors in the
drives of various technical systems: pumps, fans, extruders,
ship electromotive systems [11], etc. Mechatronic systems
with SynRM in the implementation of effective sensorless
control have significant advantages over both modern AC
drives and classic DC drives.
At present, NIPTIEM specialists have developed electric
motors with a rotational axis height of 100, 132, 160, 280,
315, 540 with 2p = 4, 6 and a power range from 3kW to
500kW. Experimental models of motor have successfully
passed the research tests [12 - 13].
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TABLE 4. COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNRM AND IM
Parameter
Power, kW
Height
of
rotation axis,
mm
Outer
diameter stator
core, mm
Length stator
core, mm
Rated
frequency, Hz
Rated current,
A
Rated voltage,
V
cos ϕ
SRM160М6ie2
18.5
7AVER180M6ie2
18.5
160
180
This research was supported by Ruselprom Ltd. We are
gratefull to our colleagues from Electric Machines Research
and Development Institute (NIPTIEM), namely A. Galdin, S.
Frolov who helped in the experiment, which greatly helped
the research.
REFERENCES
260
295
245
265
50
50
54
37
290
380
0.749
0.875
Efficiency, %
90.4
89.5
Weight, kg
132
169
To accelerate the introduction of mechatronic systems
with synchronous reluctance motors in the industry,
resolving of a number of urgent problems are required,
including [11 - 14]:
1. Development of scientifically-based methods for
optimal design of SynRM for mechatronic systems for
various purposes.
2. Theoretical and experimental research of processes
and algorithms for control of SynRM of various designs.
Inadequate formalization of the algorithms for controlling
the magnetic flux of the SynRM can significantly limit the
use of large machines with high values of magnetic losses in
the stator core.
3. Development of automated technology for the
production of machines. It is necessary to create low-cost
reconfigurable punching schemes for core sheets, which
make it possible to manufacture cores for SynRM and IM
for the basis of sequential stamping, etc.
4. Development and production of frequency invertors
with algorithms of sensorless control.
5. Development, research and modeling of mechatronic
systems with SynRM for industry and transport, taking into
account the specifics of their operation under specific
conditions.
V. CONCLUSION
The synchronous reluctance motor is a promising
electrical machine for energy-efficient mechatronic systems
and drives. The advantages of SynRM are most apparent in
the field of partial loads and at low speeds in the pick-up
and reverse modes.
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