Design of High-efficiency Single-phase Direct-on-line Synchronous Reluctance Motors for Pump Applications

With high surrounding temperatures, winding resistance increases and thus lowers the operational efficiency of a motor. To meet the large application requirements and conform with the ever-increasing energy-efficiency regulations for pump equipment in the metals industry, consistent efforts have focused on producing single-phase motors that can deliver superior performance at a low cost. Because the steady-state rotational speed is synchronized and no driver circuit is required, a direct-on-line synchronous reluctance motor is a potentially viable alternative to the commonly adopted induction motors. Its inherently simple structure and comparably low operational speed necessitate a challenging structural design for accomplishing the high-efficiency objectives of pump applications. These challenges and their potential solutions are reported in detail. By employing a systematic design scheme and including thermal concerns of the performance, a competitive high-efficiency single-phase direct-on-line synchronous reluctance motor for pump applications in various metal industry equipment was offered.