Influence of Stator and Rotor Pole Arcs on Electromagnetic Torque of Variable Flux Reluctance Machines

The influence of stator and rotor pole arcs on electromagnetic torque of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) having different stator and rotor pole combinations is investigated. Different from 6/4 stator/rotor pole switched reluctance machines, which usually employ equal stator pole arc and stator slot opening, unequal stator pole arc and slot opening can boost the torque density of the VFRM. Moreover, the optimal rotor pole arc to rotor pole pitch ratio in VFRMs is
$\sim ~1/3$
and the optimal stator pole arc is equal to or slightly smaller than the optimum rotor pole arc. For a 6-pole stator, the 4-, 5-, 7-, and 8-pole rotor VFRMs with the optimal stator and rotor pole arcs can increase the average torque by 1%, 4%, 30.7%, and 72.9% compared with those having equal stator pole arc and stator slot opening. In addition, the 6/7 stator/rotor pole VFRM exhibits the largest torque density. Prototype machines with optimal stator and rotor pole arcs are manufactured and measured to validate the analysis.