Steady-state performance of a line-start synchronous reluctance motor with capacitive assistance

This paper sets forth the steady-state performance analysis of a connection scheme that improves the power factor and torque with a lower magnetizing current for a line-start synchronous reluctance motor. The machine stator winding is split into two equal halves, one connected to the mains and the other connected to a balanced capacitor. Performance of the machine is improved if the capacitor value is such that the winding to which it connected operate at or very close to resonance in the d-axis. Current in both windings contributes positively to torque production and external control circuitry is not required. Steady-state equations arising from the d-q model gives a direct insight on the operating limits and how this capacitance aids the machines torque and power factor by boosting its direct axis reactance while the quadrature axis reactance remains fairly constant. An equivalent circuit is also deduced from the steady-state equations from which an explicit expression for input impedance of the new machine can be derived. Conditions for unity-power factor at varying load conditions are also examined. A comparison with conventional single-winding synchronous reluctance motor is given. Such comparison is fair because both machines have the same amount of copper and iron. Experimental results are provided to validate the analytical results. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.