Thermal Modeling of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for an Electric Vehicle Application

Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) find wide application in electric vehicles due to their remarkable characteristics, such as high power density, robust torque capability, and superior efficiency compared to other common electric motors. This superiority primarily stems from the absence of a heat source on the rotor side, courtesy of the permanent magnets. However, due to the heightened vulnerability of these permanent magnets, effective thermal management and analysis become imperative for PMSM, particularly during short-duration peak performances and steady-state continuous operations. Such operations could potentially exert adverse effects on the permanent magnets, winding insulation, and overall motor performance. Therefore, the focus of this paper revolves around addressing thermal concerns associated with PMSM by utilizing both Lumped Parameter Thermal Network (LPTN) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for accurate and cost-effective thermal modeling.