Experience in Design Optimization of High Efficiency Induction Motors

The problem of designing high efficiency induction motors is approached using nonlinear programming. A software has been developed whose capacities are pointed out by showing some significant and original applications. Different design strategies have been considered in order to evaluate the effects of groups of variables on the chosen "Objective Function" and motor performance. Moreover an appropriate use of the proposed methodology has allowed to optimize an induction motor line with the same stator and rotor shapes. The optimization results point out how an accurate motor design allows to achieve significant reductions on the operating cost (from 36% for 1.5 kW to 19% for the 18.5 kW) without affecting the manufacturing costs. Based on the optimization results, several prototypes have been built and tested.