IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS 1

Torque Assessment of a Novel Rotor Design for Synchronous

Reluctance Motor with Circular and Rectangular Flux Barriers
Chun-Yao Lee, Member, IEEE, and Edu Daryl C. Maceren

Department of Electrical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan

This article presents a preliminary study of the induced reluctance torque of the designed rotor for a synchronous reluctance motor
(SynRM) with circular and rectangular flux barriers (Hybrid-R Model). Radial ribs are integrated along flux barriers to improve the
saliency ratio and reluctance torque of the motor. The reluctance torque, d-axis (direct-axis), and q-axis (quadrature-axis) inductances
are computed using mathematical modeling and then verified using the finite element method. Moreover, a derived equation is presented
to compute the induced reluctance torque for a novel three-phase SynRM. In this study, Hybrid-R Model's induced reluctance torque
obtained a 93.11% improvement compared to a rotor with circular-shape flux barriers with radial ribs (Circular-R Model).

Index Terms—Circular Model, Circular-R Model, Hybrid-R Model, reluctance torque, d-axis and q-axis inductances, saliency ratio,
synchronous reluctance motor.

I. INTRODUCTION Also, it has been proven that the circular barriers can obtain

S ynchronous Reluctance Motors (SynRMs) have increasing

importance in various motor applications due to their robust
construction, high efficiency and no armature windings are
higher torque with a low ripple, but it requires longer
optimization time. In [6], the study performed a sensitivity
analysis and found out that the rotor anisotropy and power
needed. SynRM also gained an advantage over permanent factor were worsened due to the higher rib thickness.
assisted synchronous reluctance motor (PMSynRM) due to its This study aims to assess the reluctance torque of the
lower cost and easier to manufacture [1]. They are also suitable proposed rotor design. The designed rotor is composed of
for high-speed applications due to their rugged construction. circular and rectangular flux barriers and radial ribs. This study
The study for developing a new design of SynRM is getting also determines the increase in saliency ratio due to integrating
more significant since it is the basis of design for PMSynRM, radial ribs and flux barriers. The saliency ratio is a significant
where the application of interior PM can be minimized without characteristic in improving the reluctance torque [7]. The
compromising its overall performance. However, the SynRM benefit of analyzing the effect of saliency ratio can also widen
has a minimal generated torque compared to PMSynRM; thus, any electric machine's operating range. Thus, it is essential to
there is a need to search for a strategy to design a reluctance emphasize the saliency ratio as a primary parameter in
motor by optimizing even one of its properties to increase its designing a SynRM.
torque profile. Furthermore, some of the problems of SynRMs,
such as vibration, torque per ampere, and torque ripple, are II. CALCULATION OF MAGNETIC FLUX LINKAGE AND
crucial in evaluating its performance [2]. INDUCTANCE FOR HYBRID-R MODEL
Many studies were done in designing a SynRM with the The motor parameters depend primarily on coil flux linkage,
integration of interior permanent magnets to increase the d-axis, and q-axis inductances. In this designed reluctance
induced torque and achieve optimum torque ripple [1]. Many motor, an existing stator from a 400-W, 72-V, three-phase
manufacturers conducted much research to develop an induction motor is used for modeling with the following
optimized SynRM based on its desired application and properties:
performance [3]. TABLE I
Most rotor geometry analyses focus on designing an STATOR SPECIFICATION
optimized SynRm structure because most magnetic saturation Paramter Value
and vibration occur in the rotor. In the study conducted in [1], diameter of stator 75 mm
the generated torque and torque ripple of a SynRM was slot length 50mm
optimized by determining the proper ratio on the number of slot area 67.5 mm2
stator slots to rotor poles and the number of rotor flux barriers. number of stator poles 24
In [4], it is stated that the saliency ratio, generated torque, and air-gap length 0.5 mm
torque ripple is dependent on the following flux barrier design slot depth 12.3 mm
parameters of the rotor such as angle, width, length, and coils per phase 8
positions. Therefore, the flux barrier's design can be optimized turns per coil 41
based on the identified design parameters, and it has been turns per phase 328
proven that saliency has a significant influence on the generated winding factor 0.9333
torque. A comparative study was conducted in [5] and stated
that the rectangular and circular flux barriers gained a 2.5% low
The magnetic flux density of the Hybrid-R model can be
ripple, while the hyperbolic and Joukowski shapes obtained a
calculated as:
4% torque ripple.

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IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS 2

Bg (t, θ)=B1g cos(ωs t+θ) (1) Where

where B1g is the average magnitude of the magnetic flux Finally, the d-axis and q-axis inductance can be calculated as:
density induced in the stator coils, 𝜔𝑠 is the angular frequency
of the stator current, and 𝜃 is the phase angle of the stator
current. Thus, the flux in one full pitch coil can be expressed as: 2Di lm (9)
Ld = ∙Bgd ∙Kw Nph
P
𝜋 B1g cos(ωs t+θ)
ϕ= ∫ ∙ Di lm dθ 2Di lm (10)
0 𝑃 Lq = ∙Bgq ∙Kw Nph
P
2Di lm (2)
= ∙B1g ωs ∙ sin(ωs t) Where
p
Where P is the number of poles Di and lm are the inner radius and
stack length of the stator, respectively. Furthermore, the flux
linkage can be derived as:

2Di lm (3)
λm = ∙B1g ∙Kw Nph
P
where Kw and Nph are the winding factor and number of turns per
phase of stator coils, respectively.

The d-axis and q-axis inductances can be calculated using the

representation of air-gap variation with respect to electrical
angles in the d-axis and q-axis symmetry [8]. The MMF of the
air-gap in the d-axis armature is:

Fg (β)=F1g cosβ (4)

where F1g is the average magnitude of the magneto-motive

force in the air-gap, and β is the angular rotor position. Also,
the flux density in the air-gap in the d-axis and q-axis can be
written as:

μo F1g cosβ (5)

Bg =
g(β)

By using Fourier analysis, the peak value of the fundamental

flux density in the air-gap in the d-axis and q-axis [8],
respectively, are:
Fig. 1. Flux path of the SRM along d-axis and q-axis of Hybrid
Model
2 α
cos2 β
Bg = μo F1g [ ∫ dβ
π 0 gb

π-α
cos2 β π
cos2 β (6)
+∫ dβ + ∫ dβ]
α Kc gb π-α gb

μo F1g
Bgd = [(π-2β-sin2β)]
πkc g

+(2β+sin2β) (7)

μo F1g
Bgq = [(π-2β+sin2β)]
πkc g

+(2β-sin2β) (8)
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS 3

TABLE II
ANALYTICAL VS. FEA CALCULATION RESULTS FOR HYBRID-R MODEL
INDUCTANCES
Inductance Analytical FEA Percent Error
Direct-Axis 19.85 18.85 4.75 %
Quadrature-Axis 18.66 18.28 2.08 %

n the analytical modeling, the flux leakage along the air-gap

is neglected. The computed result of the d-axis inductance
obtained a 4.75% error which is expected due to the actual flux
leakage in the air-gap. In FEA analysis, the leakage and
magnetic saturation are considered shown in Fig. 1; a 2.62%
and 2.08% error were attained in computing for saliency ratio
and q-axis, respectively, as shown in Table II. Fig. 3. Circular-R Model

III. EFFECTS OF COMBINED CIRCULAR AND RECTANGULAR

FLUX BARRIERS
It is necessary to consider the importance of designing a rotor
barrier’s shape symmetrically to eliminate magnetic flux
density saturation [9]. The Circular Model, as shown in Fig. 2,
contains a saturation area along the tangential ribs. This area
where magnetic flux density is saturated signifies no
distribution of magnetic flux along with the other segments in
the rotor and the air-gap. Because of minimal magnetic flux in
some parts of the rotor, this causes a lesser inductance in the
machine's d-axis and q-axis, and the reluctance motor can
produce less torque. Also, it can be seen as a manifestation of
Fig. 4. Hybrid-R Model
magnetic flux leakage along the stator, which contributes to the
loss of stored magnetic energy in the stator, as shown in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 4, a rectangular flux barrier is employed. With the
The magnetic flux can be distributed in all parts of the rotor by
combined circular and rectangular flux barrier, there is an even
integrating radial ribs along with the flux barriers shown in Fig.
distribution of magnetic flux and the rotor; the reluctance motor
3. With the even magnetic flux distribution along the d-axis
obtained a higher magnetic field density, which can further
and q-axis, the reluctance motor's saliency ratio can be
increase the q-axis and d-axis inductances. The improvement of
increased, but the stator's magnetic flux leakage is eliminated.
q-axis and d-axis inductances can enable the motor to generate
more torque due to increased magnetic field density in the stator
and an even distribution of magnetic flux linkage in the rotor
TABLE III
GENERATED TORQUE IMPROVEMENT RESULTS

Flux Barrier Saliency Generated Torque, Torque

Shape Ratio (Nm) Improvement
Circular Model 1.0044 0.0025 0%
Circular-R 1.016 0.0218 1.5%
Hybrid-R 1.0316 0.0421 93.11%

segments.

IV. TORQUE EQUATION FOR THE HYBRID-R MODEL

Fig.2. Circular Model In most conventional reluctance motors, the rotor's most
common flux barrier shapes are rectangular, round, hyperbolic,
and Joukowski. Hybrid-R Model's design basis was inspired
from [5], in which among the four flux barrier shapes, the
rectangular and round shapes have the lowest torque ripple. The
round shape can generate a minimal torque ripple for high-
torque applications, while the rectangular shape can generate a
lesser torque ripple for low torque applications. In this study, a
synchronous reluctance motor is designed for low-torque
applications with a combination of circular and rectangular flux
barrier shapes. The reluctance torque can be evaluated as:
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS 4

[3] M. Palmieri, M. Perta, F. Cupertino and G. Pellegrino, "Effect of the

1 dL (11) numbers of slots and barriers on the optimal design of synchronous
T= I2ph ∙m∙P∙ reluctance machines," 2014 International Conference on Optimization of
2 dβ Electrical and Electronic Equipment (OPTIM), Bran, Romania, 2014, pp.
260-267.
where Iph is the magnitude of stator current, m is the number [4] M.N.F. Ibrahim, “Design Aspects of High Performance Synchronous
Reluctance Machines With and Without Permanent Magnets,” thesis,
phase, P is the number of poles, 𝐿 is the inductance of the stator, Belgium, 2017.
and β is the rotor angle. For simplicity, the inductance variation [5] C. D. Gréef, V. Kluyskens, F. Henrotte, C. Geuzaine and B. Dehez,
of the stator winding is assumed to be sinusoidal. Thus, the "Impact of Flux Barriers Shape in Synchronous Reluctance Machine
Optimization," 2019 19th International Symposium on Electromagnetic
inductance of the stator can be presented as: Fields in Mechatronics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ISEF),
Nancy, France, 2019, pp. 1-2.
[6] C. Babetto, G. Bacco and N. Bianchi, "Synchronous Reluctance Machine
Optimization for High-Speed Applications," in IEEE Transactions on
Energy Conversion, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 1266-1273, Sept. 2018.
[7] W. Chai, W. Zhao and B. Kwon, "Optimal Design of Wound Field
Ld + Lq Ld - Lq (12) Synchronous Reluctance Machines to Improve Torque by Increasing the
L= + cos4β
2 2 Saliency Ratio," in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 53, no. 11, pp.
1-4, Nov. 2017.
where Ld and Ld are d-axis and q-axis inductances, respectively,
and 𝛽 is the rotor angular position; the average induced torque [8] L. Qinghua, “Analysis, Design, and Control of Permanent Magnet
in the rotor per phase is: Synchronous Motors for Wide-speed Operation,” thesis, Singapore, 2005.
[9] H. Jang, S. Oh, Y. Park, H. Kim, I. S. Jang and J. Lee, "Design and
Analysis of a Novel Rotor Shape to Improve Power Performance,"
I2m Ld (13) in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 1-
Tavg =- Lq ( - 1) sin4β
4 Lq 4, June 2020.

The produced reluctance torque of three different rotors is

listed in Table III. However, due to the vibration and noise
caused by the rotor, the reluctance motor can produce torque
ripple, which may compromise its performance and
sustainability. Thus, the rotor flux barriers' dimensions can be
further optimized to attain a higher torque with minimal torque
ripples.

V. CONCLUSION
This study assessed the induced reluctance torque of a design
novel rotor for a synchronous reluctance motor. The rotor is
designed to have a higher saliency ratio and improve flux
linkage and distribution throughout the rotor segments. Based
on the FEA results, the radial ribs serve as a path for the
magnetic flux throughout the rotor parts, and thus the d-axis and
q-axis inductance were improved; thus, the saliency ratio and
reluctance torque were increased. The computed inductance
profile of the designed SRM was computed using an analytical
model and compared to FEA results. The obtained percent
errors are 4.75% and 2.08% for d-axis inductance and q-axis
inductance, respectively. The designed Hybrid-R model rotor
obtained a 93.11% torque increase compared to the Circular-R
model, which is composed of circular flux barriers and radial
ribs. Future optimization and experimentations can be
conducted to further improve and verify the reluctance torque
with minimal ripples and the saliency ratio by redesigning the
flux barrier and its radial ribs.

REFERENCES
[1] A. Tessarolo, "Modeling and Analysis of Synchronous Reluctance
Machines With Circular Flux Barriers Through Conformal Mapping,"
in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 1-11, April 2015.
[2] Y. C. Choi, H. Kim and J. Lee, "Optimum Design Criteria for Maximum
Torque Density and Minimum Torque Ripple of SynRM According to the
Rated Wattage Using Response Surface Methodology," in IEEE
Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 44, no. 11, pp. 4135-4138, Nov. 2008.