Model-Based Development

Application / Solutions

Last modified at 1 Sep 2023

Overview

What is required for a motor, which is the key component in vehicle electrification, is not only high performance as a component but also high consistency with the system.
Model-based development using simulation is also becoming indispensable for motor development.
JMAG, which has a high track record in motor design, proposes a new workflow for model-based development.
How the development of motors for EVs will proceed in system design, component design, prototype / performance evaluation, and system verification is presented.
All the examples shown are from simulations using JMAG.

Motor Development Workflow

System Design
Component Design
Prototyping and Tests
System Verification

1. System Design

In this phase, with system design, from the performance requirements for the final product to component requirements, that is, motor requirement specifications, are broken down.
The specifications of the motor are determined while confirming that the system requirements are met with heavy use of simulations, where previously motor specifications were determined using experience and rule-based processes. By simulation it is possible to investigate a very large design space at high speed, so it is possible to narrow down the design space more systematically without missing any cases while leaving freedom for a later process.
In system design, from EV requirements, drive motor and drive requirements are deduced. First, after identifying the type of motor and the output based on system requirements, the power flow of candidate motors is examined; and after basic motor requirements are determined, motor type selection is carried out from evaluations of required maximum torque and maximum power. An I-shaped IPM motor is selected for reasons of high efficiency and low magnet quantity (low price).
By examining specific motor geometries and configurations at system design, it is possible to develop efficiently with less rework.

#01 Verification of cruising distance

System design begins with vehicle system requirements. Given vehicle system requirements the requirements of the motor drive, battery, control, cooling, and drive system subsystem are determined. In this case study the requirements are: weight – 1,300 kg, size – 4,300 x 1,800 x 1,600, maximum speed – 160 km/h, acceleration performance – 0-100 km/h in 10 seconds, acceleration – 10 km/h/s, noise no greater than 55 dB at a cruising speed of 100 km/h. When vehicle weight and maximum speed are chosen, the maximum speed, maximum output, and maximum torque of the motor can be estimated. However, at this point it is not known whether the motor drive specifications meet the vehicle system requirements. Because of this, basic motor design is carried out, and whether the cruising distance, one of the requirements, is met or not is verified. For this, basic design information is required for batteries and drive systems as well.

Fig. 1-1 shows the maximum cruising distance for the electrical power consumption calculated from the variation in efficiency obtained from JC08 mode running simulation. Using the basic designed motor, whether the required cruising distance (400 km) with the assumed battery capacity (40 kWh) can be obtained is confirmed.

In the running simulation, the JC08 vehicle speed history in Fig. 1-2 is input and the variation in efficiency in Fig. 1-3 is obtained. This verification is carried out in the course of breaking down the vehicle system requirement specifications to the requirement specifications of subsystems such as the motor drive system. At this stage, the motor information to be input are requirement specifications (maximum output, maximum torque, and efficiency).

Fig. 1-1 Cruising distance and battery power consumption history

Fig.1-2 JC08 mode vehicle speed history

Fig.1-3 Motor efficiency during JC08 running mode

If the cruising distance requirement is not met at this stage, then the subsystem requirement specifications are insufficient. Therefore in this case, the subsystem requirements are be redetermined.
At this point, an efficiency map is generated from the requirement specifications of the motor drive system using JMAG-Express and JMAG-RT Viewer and verified by running simulation.

For #02 – #04, please check the PDF version
Sign in to read PDF version

2. Component Design

Based on the requirements for the motor chosen in the system design in section 1, the specific motor geometry and composition are determined. In this section, the way in which simulation is being used is evolving.
Traditionally, simulation has been used to confirm the performance of motors designed using experience and rules, but with the new workflow, from parametric analysis that makes use of the characteristics of simulation a large design space is searched and the optimum motor meeting the requirements is found.
In this case study rectangular conductors and distributed windings which allow a good fill factor were selected in order to increase the power density. This was done based on the results of parametric analysis for wire type, slot shape, and winding method. Since the rotor has many design variables, from numerous parametric analyses the magnet positioning and geometry was optimized. Taking step skew into account, slot opening width is determined such that cogging torque is minimized. Finally, it is confirmed that the demagnetization resistance is sufficient to withstand even harsh environments.
To adapt control parameters concerning driving a designed motor, detailed motor characteristics are handed over to the control design process.

#05 Resistance

In this subsection the winding method is decided. Parametric analysis is performed while changing the winding method in JMAG-Express. The windings investigated are a distributed winding and a concentrated winding.
Fig. 5-1 shows the relationship between phase resistance and torque. Distributed winding results and concentrated winding results are shown. It can be seen that for the concentrated winding the resistance value can be lower than for the distributed winding (6-slot pitch, full-pitch winding). However, when looking at the torque, it can be seen that the distributed winding is advantageous. From these results, a distributed winding was adopted to obtain the necessary torque.

Fig. 5-1 Tradeoffs between winding methods, torque and resistance

For #06 – #12, please check the PDF version
Sign in to read PDF version

3. Prototyping and Tests

What is confirmed during this phase includes the design’s intended performance and whether or not this performance can be demonstrated in actual machines rather than simulations alone, as well as the likelihood of issues occurring.
Today’s latest simulation techniques are run thoroughly through computers using the likes of HPC (High Performance Computing).
Using virtual prototypes results in not only a significant reduction of trial costs, but functions can also be confirmed over a considerably wide range of operation conditions. Elements not usually able to be confirmed in real machines are also observed, such as motor internal magnetic fields, loss, temperature, and force distribution. This offers both a smarter way of confirming functions as well as further ideas for improvement.
The efficiency map is confirmed here first. Machines can encounter issues in temperature management which can result in substantially time consuming and labor intensive work, but simulations make it possible to generate these issues without difficulty. Magnetic hotspots that cause demagnetization and electromagnetic forces that cause vibrations are analyzed in detail to check that the designed motor satisfies all the required functions.

#13 Efficiency map

Prototyping act as the input for efficiency maps, but the workflow itself uses virtual prototypes and evaluates motor characteristics. This is similar to evaluating a real prototype, but it is still required to check whether a real prototype can actually obtain the characteristics as planned in the basic design stage. Modeling begins by basing the form of the virtual prototype as close as possible to an actual machine prototype, and then evaluating its performance. It is mainly important that the more detailed parts that are modelled, and that actual drive conditions including detailed geometries and control are reproduced.

Fig. 13-1 shows an efficiency map made by obtaining loss from repeated calculations of FEA that use the current waveform as input. The current waveform is from the actual run time that accounts for control and the circuit at each operating point. Iron loss is calculated as post processing. Eddy current of magnet and coil are calculated. Each time the efficiency map is evaluated during basic design stages, sinusoidal current is assumed and the effect of the eddy current is not accounted for. Fig. 13-1 additionally displays a classification of loss at 4 representative operating points. Copper loss is the highest at point A because due to high load at a large flowing electrical current. Point B maintains a large proportion of iron loss because the PWM carrier frequency component is largely included at a low speed and a low load. It is understood that at Point C and Point D, rotation speed increases and AC loss grows larger. Fig. 13-2(a)-(f) displays the loss density distribution of each part. Stray load loss that is generated in detailed parts such as the press ring is also evaluated here.

Eddy currents are primarily due to magnetic flux leaking from the core surface of the press ring, rotor, stator surface, and coil end parts. Loss is generated whenever magnetic flux has an axial component in the air gap. Fig. 13-2(f) displays the relationship between flux the frequency component and loss density. The carrier frequency component flux line and loss density distribution are shown in the stator core and the magnet part. Virtual prototypes make it possible to both visualize and analyze the main causes of loss generations.

Fig. 13-1 Efficiency map during prototype and verification stages

Fig. 13-2 Loss density distribution at each part

For #14 – #17, please check the PDF version
Sign in to read PDF version

4. System Verification

It is confirmed that, when using the motor for production, the final product demonstrates the desired performance.
The control and multiphysics phenomena such as heat and vibration, etc., are confirmed as part of system validation.
MIL/HIL techniques are used for control. Control actions can be validated extensively and in detail using a highly accurate motor model that also captures detailed information such as spatial harmonics, eccentricity, etc., as well as motor magnetic saturation. The integration of physical phenomenon is performed with linked simulations through cooling and sound vibrations. Virtual prototypes and evaluations obtain detailed heat distribution and electromagnetic force distribution which can be transferred to other external 3rd party tools for highly accurate validations.
The corresponding shows the confirmation of electric current and torque responsiveness during times of inverter failure as one example of control validation. This simulation is conducted with JMAG-RT using MATLAB/Simulink. Motor vibration when connected to gears and inverters is also confirmed.

#18 ECU control test

ECU control tests are carried out to validate system quality. Unexpected conditions are also implemented for assumed test cases to confirm that there have been no omissions or insufficiencies. Motor responsiveness is confirmed when IGBT is both opened and closed, and during both low temperatures and high temperatures, whereas HILs is used for safe tests and automation. These are conducted using highly accurate plant models generated from JMAG-RT.

Fig. 18 display typical test items and test results where JMAG-RT and Simulink are used, confirming that there is no current overflow due to simulated IGBT failure when either permanently opened or closed. Testing during real machine failure is both dangerous and comes at an additional cost, but Model-Based Development make safe and effective tests entirely possible. Motor behaviour each time a high torque of 170Nm is applied during run time is the next item to be confirmed. The inverter maximum current (250A) does not cause conflict even with a load of 170Nm for a single second, and it was confirmed that speed quickly returned to the command value. The command value could be followed without delays even when changing the temperature. This confirmed that no problems had occurred.

A plant model generated from JMAG-RT is used here for simulations. For JMAG-RT models to reproduce magnetic saturation and spatial harmonics in detail, motor behaviour is recreated equal to that of a real machine. This includes recreating unstable drive conditions. JMAG-RT models can additionally use various HILs as-is.

Fig. 18 Typical test items and test results for ECU control.

For #19 – #21, please check the PDF version
Sign in to read PDF version

Related materials

To continue, please sign-in.

Protected content here, for members only.
You need to sign in as a Regular JMAG Software User (paid user) or JMAG WEB MEMBER (free membership).

By registering as a JMAG WEB MEMBER, you can browse technical materials and other member-only contents for free.
If you are not registered, click the “Create an Account” button.

Create an Account Sign in