A nonlinear analytical model for the rapid prediction of the torque of synchronous reluctance machines

The synchronous reluctance motor works under heavy saturation. This paper presents a nonlinear analytical model of the reluctance machine, which is used to derive both average and torque harmonics as a function of the rotor geometry. Maps showing the torque harmonics as a function of the rotor barrier angles are derived. These maps are useful tools for the machine designer to get a proper rotor geometry. The torque maps are compared with those obtained from both linear analytical and finite element models. The maps computed analytically show good agreement with those derived by means of finite element analysis, and they are obtained in a much smaller computing time