Impact of Winding Topology on Magnetic Field Quality and Fault Tolerance in Six-Phase Induction Machines

Abstract

The main scope of this research was to complete and validate the analysis of stator winding topologies of six-phase AC machines using the winding quality factor by determining fault tolerance and validating it through experimental tests. This paper proposes a unified and practical methodology for evaluating the performance of stator windings in six-phase induction machines, with emphasis on magnetic field quality and fault-tolerant operation. The approach combines analytical modeling of the magnetomotive force (MMF) with its graphical representation using the MMF polygon, enabling an efficient assessment of harmonic content through a global indicator, referred to as the winding quality factor. Several representative winding topologies are analyzed within a common framework, including single-layer and double-layer configurations with full-pitch and short-pitch coils, suitable for generating homologous series of six-phase machines. The study considers both normal operating conditions and post-fault regimes, particularly operation with a single three-phase set. The results reveal the strong influence of winding topology on harmonic distortion and overall machine performance, highlighting the trade-offs between magnetic field quality and fault tolerance. It is shown that appropriate winding design can reduce spatial harmonics and improve robustness under degraded operating conditions. The theoretical findings are validated through experimental investigations, demonstrating good agreement between analytical predictions and measured data. A parallel analysis was performed between the theoretical findings and experimental data, and the results conform to the authors’ expectations.