The aim of the project is to investigate the performance of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine PMSM, a Synchronous Reluctance Machine SynRM and a Ferrite-based Permanent Magnet Synchronous Reluctance Machine PMaSynRM with different rotor topologies but the same stator design. Synchronous reluctance motor technology is considered among other type of electric machines for alternative to PMSM since it needs no magnet. A gap analysis is performed to evaluate those three rotor topologies with a target performance requirement.This investigation is also aiming to identify alternative solution for existing traditional PMSM technology without rare earth Permanent Magnets or as little as possible without compromising on electric machine function and performance.

In this study performance of PMSM has met the requirement. In contrast, SynRM has lower performance than the requirement (55%), even with optimization of rotor geometry. Ferritebased optimized PMaSynRM has lower performance than the requirement (71%). Consequently, the best alternative solution for PMSM would be Ferrite based PMaSynRM, but to reach the target performance an increase in active length is required.