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Open AccessArticle
Partially Segmented Permanent-Magnet Losses in Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors
by
Jeremiah Vannest
Jeremiah Vannest * and
Julia Zhang
Julia Zhang
Prof. Dr. Julia Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Ohio in [...]
Prof. Dr. Julia Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ohio State University. She earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State University in 2010. From 2010 to 2012, she worked as a Control Engineer at Ford Motor Company. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University from 2012 to 2017. In 2017, she joined Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor. Her expertise includes AC electric machine design, AC electric machine and drive modeling and control, and partial discharge in electric machines.
*
Center for High Performance Power Electronics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2879; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112879 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 10 April 2025
/
Revised: 15 May 2025
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Accepted: 21 May 2025
/
Published: 30 May 2025
Abstract
Permanent-magnet losses in interior permanent-magnet (IPM) motors can result in high magnet temperatures and potential demagnetization. This study investigates using partially segmented magnets as an alternative to traditional segmented magnets to reduce these losses. Partial segmentation involves cutting slots into the magnet to redirect the eddy current path and reduce losses. The research explores analytical and finite element modeling of eddy current losses in partially segmented magnets in IPM machines. Various configurations and orientations of partial segmentation were examined to assess their impact on eddy current losses. Axial slots for the partially segmented magnets were found to be the most effective slotting direction for the baseline IPM motor’s aspect ratio. This study also explores several methods for measuring permanent-magnet loss in IPM machines. A locked rotor test fixture was designed to measure losses induced by switching harmonics. AC loss measurements for the test fixture were conducted to compare magnets with and without partial segmentation. The results showed a significant reduction in permanent-magnet loss for the partially segmented magnets, particularly at higher currents and across all the tested switching frequencies and phase angles. Additionally, the transient temperature of the partially segmented magnets was found to be 12 °C lower than without partial segmentation after a 30 min test.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Vannest, J.; Zhang, J.
Partially Segmented Permanent-Magnet Losses in Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors. Energies 2025, 18, 2879.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112879
AMA Style
Vannest J, Zhang J.
Partially Segmented Permanent-Magnet Losses in Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors. Energies. 2025; 18(11):2879.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112879
Chicago/Turabian Style
Vannest, Jeremiah, and Julia Zhang.
2025. "Partially Segmented Permanent-Magnet Losses in Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors" Energies 18, no. 11: 2879.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112879
APA Style
Vannest, J., & Zhang, J.
(2025). Partially Segmented Permanent-Magnet Losses in Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors. Energies, 18(11), 2879.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112879
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