A Comparative Investigation of Iron Loss Models for Electrical Machine Design Using FEA and Experimental Validation

Abstract

This paper proposes a contribution by presenting a comprehensive comparison of different iron loss models currently applied on electrical machine design process. Three core loss methods have been selected following premises of relatively easy implementation and coefficients obtained from standardized tests. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used for accurate estimation of the electromagnetic fields in a motor case study. The results are post-processed with approaches at frequency and time domains by the referred iron loss models and confronted with measurements in a low power Brushless DC (BLDC) motor prototype, inverter-driven, whose output uses pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) voltage waveform. The results show that, for an accurate prediction of motor efficiency, variable iron losses coefficients and PWM corrections must be applied.