Rotor Design of a Line-Start Synchronous Reluctance Machine with Respect to Induction Machine for Industrial Applications

Paper in proceeding, 2018

This paper introduces a unique rotor design for line-start synchronous reluctance machines. Efficiency and synchronization capability are determined and a comparison between line-start synchronous reluctance machines and induction machines is drawn. For the design and simulation, FEM calculations were used and the results were experimentally verified. Within the frame of this paper a 4 kW rated induction machine with an efficiency class rating of IE3 was chosen as a benchmark motor. The new rotor-cage design of the line start reluctance machine decreases the motor losses at steady state by about 28%. This promising approach could be used to upgrade induction machines in industry environments instead of replacing them. Nevertheless, a challenge in the design is a good balance between the steady state performance and synchronization capability, whereby the range of industrial applications is limited for high efficient line-start synchronous reluctance machines.