IPM Motor Rotor with Unequal Pole Arc Lengths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional permanent magnet brushless motors with interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotors exhibit non-sinusoidal air-gap magnetic field distribution, leading to non-sinusoidal back emf waveforms, increased torque ripple, noise, and vibration due to repetitive pole structures, which also cause cogging torque.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a rotor with pole pieces having different pole arc lengths, specifically a combination of long and short pole pieces with unique geometry and flux barriers to achieve asymmetry, reducing radial forces and unbalanced magnetic pull, thereby enhancing motor performance by improving sinusoidality of the back emf and reducing torque ripple and cogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional interior permanent magnet rotors with repetitive pole structures are used, then the motor structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the air-gap magnetic field distribution becomes non-sinusoidal, causing increased torque ripple, noise, and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor structure simplicityVSAvoidtorque ripple
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring pole pieces with unequal pole arc lengths, where adjacent pole pieces have different pole arc lengths. This asymmetric arrangement modifies the air-gap magnetic field distribution to be more sinusoidal, thereby reducing torque ripple and harmful harmonics while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through systematic pole piece design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional interior permanent magnet rotors with repetitive pole structures are used, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but the back emf waveform becomes non-sinusoidal, detrimental to motor electronic control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing straightforwardnessVSAvoidback emf waveform quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric pole piece configuration with unequal pole arc lengths transforms the air-gap magnetic field distribution, which directly improves the back emf waveform sinusoidality. This enables better electronic control performance while maintaining a straightforward manufacturing process through systematic pole piece arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If conventional interior permanent magnet rotors with equal pole arc lengths are used, then the rotor design is simple, but cogging torque increases due to repetitive pole structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor design simplicityVSAvoidcogging torque
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by configuring adjacent pole pieces with different pole arc lengths, which disrupts the repetitive pole structure that causes cogging torque. This asymmetric design reduces cogging torque and harmonics while maintaining reasonable rotor design complexity through systematic pole piece configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by giving different pole arc lengths to different pole pieces based on their positions. This localized variation in pole piece geometry optimizes the magnetic field distribution in different regions, reducing cogging torque and improving overall motor performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively reduces torque ripple, noise, and vibration, while improving motor efficiency and performance by balancing radial forces and harmonics in the air-gap magnetic field, resulting in a more stable and efficient motor operation.

Implementation Method 1

permanent magnet brushless motors that include a rotor that has interior permanent magnets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

interior permanent magnets and unequal poles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP2304863B1Interior permanent magnet motor including rotor with unequal poles
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 REGAL BELOIT AMERICA INC
  • EP2304863B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2304863B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2304863B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a

AI summary

An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor core including a first rotor portion positioned adjacent the stator and having an outside diameter. The first rotor portion includes a plurality of elongated slots that define a plurality of poles. The electric machine also includes a plurality of magnets. Each of the plurality of magnets is positioned within one of the slots and arranged such that each of the plurality of poles has a magnetic arc length that is different than a magnetic arc length of any adjacent pole.