Novel Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor with Integrated Filter Inductor, Using Motor's Inherent Magnetics

A close functional and structural integration of passive elements is required to improve the power density of motor drives. Such power-dense motor drives are prerequisites in aerospace and automotive applications. This article presents a permanent magnet motor with an integrated filter inductor, which not only eliminates inductor losses but also removes its associated weight and volume. The motor with an integrated filter uses motor's inherent magnetics in order to use it as a filter inductance instead of adopting an external inductor option, which is traditionally placed outside the motor. A vector-controlled model, taking modulation and switching effect into account, has been developed by using MATLAB/Simulink tool. To experimentally validate the concept of the motor with an integrated filter inductor, the winding connections of an existing motor are modified. The comparative analysis, between the traditional and integrated motor drive systems, is carried out in terms of the magnitude of switching component, total system losses, weight, and volume. The total losses in the motor with integrated filter are reduced by 34.2% at 2100 r/min and 3-N·m load, when compared to the motor with traditional filter inductor, whereas, its weight and volume in the motor with integrated filter inductor are eliminated completely.