Software helps to pick and design the best motor

An American software developer, Ansoft, has produced a software tool for designing rotating electrical machines. The user feeds in key parameters of the desired motor, and the RMxprt software generates a two-dimensional geometric model and calculates the theoretical performance in seconds, according to the company.

The software is "particularly useful at the concept stage of the design process for electrical machines," explains Adrain Perregaux, Ansoft`s director or marketing for electromagnetic products. "RMxprt allows the designer to evaluate quickly potential motor configurations and identify the most promising alternative, prior to performing more detailed analysis."

The RMxprt package can be used to design: single- and three-phase induction motors; switched reluctance motors; variable speed permanent magnet synchronous motors; DC brushless motors; and synchronous generators.

The software can generate detailed performance plots for no-load, full-load, locked rotor, breakdown and other conditions. It is part of a suite of software tools for designing various electrical and power electronic components.