Control of Variable Flux Reluctance Motor in Field Weakening Region

Abstract

In this paper, the operating point of variable flux reluctance motors (VFRMs) using voltage and current limits in the field weakening region is investigated. The voltage and current limits of VFRM, which depend on the current capacity of the inverter and the voltage limit of the inverter, are investigated by using MATLAB/Simulink. The d-axis and q-axis currents are represented using a mathematical model of VFRM. According to the analyses, the control algorithm for VFRMs is investigated in the field weakening region. VFRM can properly operate in the constant power region with this method. The conventional inverter is used to supply required d-axis and q-axis currents to armature windings with the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique. The DC/DC converter is used to control field windings. For the validation of the investigated control algorithm, 12 slots, 10 poles VFRM is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results show that the investigated field weakening method for VFRM controls the motor in constant power region and extends the speed range.