ECO-DESIGN OF ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ENERGY CONVERTERS: THE CASE OF THE THREE-PHASE SQUIRREL-CAGE INDUCTION MACHINE

This article provides the first results of the eco-design problematic on the single criterion of energy for electro-mechanical energy converters through the model of a three-phase squirrel-cage induction machine connected to a variable frequency and voltage power supply. Its sizes are computed through a genetic algorithm by minimizing two contradictory objectives: the mass of the active parts and the global energy requirement on life cycle. At first we compare these optimizations to more "traditional" ones in which only operating losses are considered. This brings us to identify in what circumstances life cycle assessment has an impact on electro-mechanical energy converters design. This impact is even more significant that the operating time of the machine at constant load power is short before the total time of use. Finally the sensitivity of the optimization's results to the elementary raw materials energy costs is considered.