Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor (PMSM) has a wound stator, a permanent magnet rotor assembly, and internal or external devices to sense rotor position. The sensing devices provide position feedback for adjusting frequency and amplitude of stator voltage reference properly to maintain rotation of the magnet assembly. The combination of an inner permanent magnet rotor and outer windings offers the advantages of low rotor inertia, efficient heat dissipation, and reduction of the motor size.

• Synchronous motor construction: Permanent magnets are rigidly fixed to the rotating axis to create a constant rotor flux. This rotor flux usually has a constant magnitude. When energized, the stator windings create a rotating electromagnetic field. To control the rotating magnetic field, the stator currents must be controlled.
• The actual structure of the rotor varies depending on the power range and rated speed of the machine. Permanent magnets are an excellent choice for synchronous machines ranging up-to a few Kilowatts. For higher power ratings the rotor usually consists of windings in which a DC current circulates. The mechanical structure of the rotor is designed for number of poles desired, and the desired flux gradients desired.
• The interaction between the stator and rotor fluxes produces torque. Since the stator is firmly mounted to the frame, and the rotor is free to rotate, the rotor rotates, producing a useful mechanical output as shown in Figure 3-1.
• The angle between the rotor magnetic field and stator field must be carefully controlled to produce maximum torque and achieve high electromechanical conversion efficiency. For this purpose fine-tuning is needed after closing the speed loop using a sensorless algorithm to draw the minimum amount of current under the same speed and torque conditions.
• The rotating stator field must rotate at the same frequency as the rotor permanent magnetic field; otherwise, the rotor experiences rapidly alternating positive and negative torque. This results in less than excellent torque production, and excessive mechanical vibration, noise, and mechanical stresses on the machine parts. In addition, if the rotor inertia prevents the rotor from being able to respond to these oscillations, the rotor stops rotating at the synchronous frequency, and responds to the average torque as seen by the stationary rotor: Zero. This means that the machine experiences a phenomenon known as pull-out. This is also the reason why the synchronous machine is not self starting.
• The angle between the rotor field and the stator field must be equal to 90º to obtain the highest mutual torque production. This synchronization requires knowing the rotor position to generate the right stator field.
• The stator magnetic field can be made to have any direction and magnitude by combining the contribution of different stator phases to produce the resulting stator flux.

Figure 3-1 Interaction Between the Rotating Stator Flux and the Rotor Flux Produces Torque