Determination of best rotor length in solid-rotor induction motor with axial slitting

The efficiency of the solid-rotor induction machines depends on axial length of rotor (including the end-regions). Determination of the best axial length is problematic because of current density distribution in the end-regions and also because of absence of dedicated methods and models. This work proposes a method that circumvents this difficulty. It is based on the numerical determination of a dimensionless rotor-end factor using a combination of three- and two-dimensional finite element models restricted to the motor rotor. Such the end factor can be used in both analytical and numerical model of the machine in order to determine the typical performance characteristics. In this work, using this method, we determined an optimal length of the slitted solid rotor of a motor operating at 12 000 rpm, that maximizes the motor efficiency. The results of computations and measurements, carried out on the laboratory test-stand, are presented.