Finite Element Modeling of Induction Machine Coupled with Three-Mass Mechanical System

Electrical drivetrains consist of an electrical machine drive connected to a mechanical system. Single-mass models are commonly used in electromechanical finite-element analyses to study various aspects of these drivetrains such as the output torque of the electrical machine or the transient performance. Nevertheless, single-mass models are inherently insufficient for the analysis of torsional vibrations. Higher degree-of-freedom mechanical models should be employed to inspect the behavior of the electric drives connected to flexible torsional systems. This paper presents a comprehensive finite element model of an induction machine coupled with a three-mass lumped-element model. The single-mass and three-mass models are compared in terms of stator current, produced torque, speed, and losses. It is shown that neglecting torsional oscillations results in underestimating the characteristics of electrical machines.