C- and circular-shaped barriers optimization in a synchronous reluctance rotor for torque ripples minimization

Due to the lack of magnets and the suitable final price, synchronous reluctance motors are potential applicants for household electric appliances and so on. But in general, they suffer from high torque ripple. Optimized design of the synchronous reluctance rotor structure is presented for two different types of barrier shape with aiming to reduce the torque ripple along with increasing the average torque.In this paper, the optimization of rotor geometries with a fixed machine size for C-shaped barriers and circular barriers type is investigated. Most of the rotor parameters such as the width of iron parts, and the width of barriers along d and q axis are optimized by a new method using the PSO algorithm. Besides, the angle of end points for each barrier with constant rib and insulation factor are considered in optimization process. Minimizing the torque ripple without losing or even increasing the average torque is the most critical optimization achievement. Two prototypes of the optimized rotor with the C-shaped and circular barriers type have been fabricated and experimentally compared. The results obtained from the 2-D Finite Element Simulation of the recommended machine conform well to the experimental result.