A reconfigurable multi-three-phase PM motor: nominal, overload and post-fault operations

This paper deals with a design of a particular surface-mounted permanent magnet (SPM) motor suitable for simulating various operating conditions of a high-reliability motor drive, e.g. for automotive or aeronautic applications. A suitable number of stator slots and rotor poles has been selected so that the winding can be rearranged to have a single, a double or a triple three-phase system, in order to achieve a given redundancy of the motor. It is possible to investigate the behaviour of motor when all the coils are supplied (healthy condition). Then, adopting the double three-phase configuration, it is possible to test the motor when only a half a machine is supplied. Finally, adopting the triple three-phase configuration, it is possible to test the motor when only a third or two-third of the machine is supplied.