Modeling and Sizing of a Synchronous Actuator

To reduce our CO2 emissions, key transportation industries (automotive, aerospace, etc.) are seeking to develop innovative transportation solutions. Most of these solutions are electric, and these electric powertrains are primarily based on synchronous motors.

This Course Unit will:

• To provide students with the scientific and technological knowledge needed to model and design a synchronous actuator for specific applications related to the field of electric propulsion.
• To provide the theoretical knowledge necessary for understanding the physical phenomena inherent in the operation of synchronous motors (electromagnetic, electrical, thermal, and mechanical).
• Define and study the various topologies and configurations of synchronous actuators (windings, rotors, etc.).
• Develop modeling methods for understanding the control of a synchronous motor.
• This paper will present a method for sizing a synchronous magnet-based actuator. It will combine this method with finite element software to verify the sizing results.
• To provide insights into the impact of such an actuator on the energy transition and the environment.

Finally, the practical component will cover the measurement methods and techniques required for the study, modeling of electromagnetic components, and control of synchronous motors. The course will be reinforced through applied projects in which the measurements taken are subsequently analyzed using scientific software (Excel, MATLAB, FEMM, etc.). This topic may be offered as a Master’s 2 project.

The objective of this course is to enable students to use the lecture and lab hours to meet the specifications for the study, sizing, and design of a synchronous motor and its control system. This course is designed to prepare students to join a design office or research laboratory to study and design actuators.

Students must be able to define the various topologies and components of a synchronous actuator, and know how to analyze and model the phenomena related to the materials used in the machines (magnets, ferromagnetic materials, etc.) and associated phenomena (iron losses, Joule losses, etc.).

Students must be familiar with control architectures and methods for characterizing an actuator in order to model it. Finally, they must be able to use the simulation software employed in the design of machines and their control systems, as well as apply the proposed models.

First-year master’s students or students in a five-year science and technology program, with coursework covering the basic principles of how electric machines operate and the theoretical foundations of electromagnetism and magnetostatics.

Have a basic understanding of power electronics and electrical energy converters used to control actuators.

Understand the mathematical methods for solving a magnetostatic problem.

Recommended prerequisites*:

Have completed the UE HAE706E course, “Energy Conversion Systems,” as part of the EEA Master’s 1 program

Have completed the UE HAE805E course, “Energy Production and Grid Modeling,” as part of the first year of the EEA Master’s program in Electrical Energy, Environment, and System Reliability.

Course unit with continuous assessment for lectures and lab work.

70% for the course and 30% for the practical work component

1. Introduction: Actuators in the Energy Transition. Electric Propulsion and Aerospace Applications. Carbon Footprint and Eco-Design. Actuator Reliability.
2. Review of Electromagnetism: Basic Laws of Physics, Study of Magnetic Circuits, Induction, Calculation of Magnetic Field Strength, Magnetic Energy, Virtual Work
3. Magnetic materials: properties, characteristics, and applications. Modeling a magnet; modeling a hysteresis cycle. Calculating iron losses and Joule losses in electric actuators
4. Definition of windings in electrical machines. Calculations of winding characteristics.
5. Inductors in electric actuators.
6. General and advanced principles of magnetic field coupling within an electric machine (virtual work, power balance, Maxwell tensor, etc.). The intrinsic operating limits of electric machines. Design and sizing of synchronous magnet-based actuators
7. Modeling a synchronous actuator. Electric motor and definition. Characterization and testing of an actuator. Finite element simulation of an actuator.
8. Control principles for a synchronous motor. Operating cycle of an actuator. Review of brushless DC control principles. Brushless AC control principles. Control architecture in normal and degraded modes.

CM: 6:00 p.m.

Practical Training: 24 hours