An improved conformal mapping method for magnetic field analysis in surface mounted permanent magnet motors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an improved conformal mapping (ICM) method that simultaneously considers the influence of relative recoil permeability of PMs, the armature reaction, the stator slotting, and the magnetic saturation on determination of the PM operating point in its different parts. Design/methodology/approach The ICM method is a time-effective method that considers the magnetic saturation by suitable increments in air-gap length under each tooth and also the width of slot openings. In this paper, the analytical and numerical conformal mappings such as the Schwarz-Christoffel (SC) mapping are used for magnetic field analysis due to the permanent magnets and the armature reaction in one slotted air gap. The field solution in the slotted air gap is obtained through the modulation of field solution in one slotless air-gap using the complex air-gap permeance. Findings The ICM method can consider the magnetic saturation in different electric loadings, and also the variation of PM operating points in its different parts. Practical implications The ICM method is applied to one surface mounted permanent magnet (SMPM) motor and is verified by comparing with the corresponding results obtained through finite element method (FEM), and frozen permeability finite element method (FP-FEM). Originality/value This paper presents an ICM method with a new technique for saturation effect modeling, which can be used to separate and calculate the on-load components of air-gap field and torque.