Design of induction machines for traction applications

Date
2020-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past few years, electric vehicles have gained popularity due to environmental driven aspirations of industrialized countries to ban fossil-fuel cars. In synergy with an agenda for renewable energy, electrified transportation is seen as a key component for a sustainable future. The aim of this thesis was to formulate a design strategy for induction motors for traction applications, with emphasis on a wide flux weakening range. An analytical model was derived to generate an initial design according to required specifications. The performance accuracy of the analytical model was closely aligned with commercial software packages such as ANSYS RMxprt. The initial design was optimized through a non-gradient based genetic algorithm. The optimized design was then further refined for manufacturability and adapted to reduce harmonic copper losses at high frequencies. The traction motor was built and tested, with measured performance matching well with expected results. The prototype motor performance validated the legitimacy of the suggested design strategy. The design strategy was then used to develop a theoretical model of a larger traction motor for locomotive applications. Additionally, the design approach was adapted to implement voltage management with the aim of reducing manufacturing costs of larger traction motors. The adapted strategy was tested with the design of an additional traction motor and proved to be a less expensive alternative.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In vorige jare het elektriese voertuie populêr geraak weens omgewings aspirasies van eerste wêreld lande om petrol aangedrewe motors te verbied. Behalwe vir hernubarie energie, word elektries aangedrewe vervoer gesien as sleutelkomponent vir ’n volhoubare toekoms. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om ’n ontwerpstrategie vir induksiemotors te formuleer, met klem op ’n breë vloed verminderings interval. ’n Analitiese model was ontwerp wat oorspronklike ontwerpe generereer volgens die vereiste prestasie. Die resultate van die anlitiese model het goed saamgestem met kommersiële sagteware pakkette soos ANSYS RMxprt. Die oorpsonklike model was geoptimiseer deur ’n Genetiese Algoritme. Die geoptimiseerde model was minimaal aangepas om die vervaardigings proses te vergemaklik, maar ook om Koper harmoniek verliese te verminder teen hoër frekwensies. Die prototipe was vervaardig en getoets met resultate wat die verwagte prestasie goed reflekteer. Die akkurate toets resultate van die prototipe motor het die geldigheid van die voorgestelde ontwerpsproses bevestig. Hierdie ontwerpsproses was toe geïmplemeteer om ’n groter induksiemotor toereties te ontwerp vir lokomotiewe toepassings. Die strategie was ook aangepas om spannings-bestuur te implementeer met die doel om die motor grootte te verminder. Die aangepaste strategie was suksesvol met die teoretiese ontwerp van ’n groter traksie motor. Met motor grootte wat verwant is aan vervaardigingskoste, is die aangepaste strategie ’n goedkoper alternatief vir groot traksie motors.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Electric vehicles -- Design, Magnetic flux, Electric motors, Induction, Traction-engines, UCTD
Citation