Modelling and Analysis of an Inverter-Start Six-Phase Induction Motor using Finite Element Analysis

This paper presents the finite element analysis (FEA) of a six-phase inverter-start induction motor (IM), which has several benefits such as high-fault tolerance, less torque pulsations and high-power output when compared to the conventional three-phase line-start IM. The motor is inverter-start hence the need for a voltage source inverter circuit that will drive the IM. The machine stator windings are distributed windings derived from splitting the stator of a conventional three-phase IM into two, to form a six-phase stator with no displacement angle of the winding sets. The Six-phase inverter-start IM was modelled and simulated using ANSYS electronics desktop finite element analysis (FEA) software. The performance characteristics, such as speed, torque, stator currents, magnetic flux density, and magnetic vector potential were observed and compared to the conventional d-q method. The analysis was seen to provide actual accurate insight into the operation of the six-phase inverter start IM that other numerical methods cannot provide.