FEM-based analysis of rotor cage material and slot geometry on double air gap axial flux induction motors

Abstract

The aim of this study is to research the effect of rotor slots geometry and squirrel cage material on motor performance in Axial Flux Induction Motors (AFIM) by analysing with finite element method. It is aimed to present a motor design with higher efficiency and low torque ripple, especially for use in electric vehicles. This study aims to design a double stator AFIM with a rated power of 50 kW. Aluminium, and copper cage motors with same stator structure but with 6 different rotor slots geometries are compared. Saturation of cores and current density of coils are considered as limit parameters. Using copper bars with rotor slot1, 92.12% efficiency was obtained with 5.77% torque ripple.

Keywords

• Axial flux
• Induction motor
• Double gap
• Rotor slot geometry
• Rotor shape
• Cage material