Loss analysis of permanent-magnet synchronous motor using three-dimensional finite-element method with homogenization method

This paper describes an iron-loss analysis of permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) taking into account lamination of iron core by a finite-element method (FEM) with a homogenization method. The detailed modeling of the laminated structure by the FEM with gap elements and double nodes requires a huge number of elements, which results in the limitation of the problem size. In order to reduce the computational costs, we apply the homogenization method to iron-loss analyses of a skewed interior PMSM and a surface permanent-magnet motor with overhanging magnet. For the clarification of the effectiveness, the homogenization method is compared with the detailed modeling from the viewpoints of computational costs and accuracy. As a consequence, it is verified that the homogenization method can analyze magnetic fields in a laminated iron core of a practical electric machine within acceptable computational costs.