Impact of Rotor Segmentation on Electromagnetic Performance of PM Machine

Rotor segmentation in a permanent magnet (PM) machine can present opportunities for cost reduction. However, the presence of flux gaps between the segments may seriously impact the machine’s performance. This work proposes a general theory to assess the impact of rotor segmentation on the machine performance. The proposed theory states that for a given design constraint, the reluctance torque of the PM machine with rotor segmentation increases compared to the conventional machine. The proposed theory is validated using finite element simulations using two different machine designs, both at no-load and on-load operating conditions.