Analysis of the Effect of Modular Stator Design on the Performance of a Low-Speed Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor

The segmentation of the stator core in an electric machine helps to reduce waste material during stamping, simplifies coil winding technology in the case of concentrated winding, and increases the slot fill factor. However, challenges such as the difficulty of precisely joining the segments at butt joints may arise, leading to increased losses and reduced machine efficiency. A modular stator design has the advantages of segmentation, while solving some of the issues of segmented designs. Most studies in this field do not adequately consider the specifics of stator module fastening in terms of its effect on the performance of electric machine. This paper analyzes the effect of various modular stator designs on the low-speed permanent magnet synchronous motor performance, taking into account the structural design. Seven magnetic system configurations are compared based on indicators such as the harmonic composition of the magnetic field in the air gap, the average value and magnitude of torque ripple, and losses in structural components. It is shown that with careful design, a machine with a modular stator core can achieve performance comparable to those of a machine with solid stator sheets.

I. Introduction

In the context of modern development of electric machines, the key requirements include increasing efficiency, reducing losses, and improving fault tolerance. The complexity of these tasks is conditioned by the need to optimize the design. One promising direction in the design of electric machines is the use of segmented and modular configurations. These approaches significantly improve machine performance, making them highly sought after in various industries [1].