Design of adjustable speed switched reluctance motor drives

Switched reluctance motors (SRM) have attracted considerable attention in industry over the past few years. Unique capabilities such as robustness, ease of closed loop control, low cost manufacturing, etc. are among the determining factors for this renewed interest. Today, SRM drives are among the main players for important automotive applications such as electrically assisted power steering, integrated starter alternators, and pumps. The same trend is observed in other sectors of industry such as home appliances, aerospace and heavy-duty mining equipment to name a few. The ongoing worldwide research and development on various aspects of SRM drives has resulted in substantial advancements. At Electro Standards Laboratories (ESL), we have developed a broad variety of innovative solutions for this emerging technology. This includes advanced magnetic design and novel configurations, self-tuning and adaptive control to enhance efficiency, specific control solutions to mitigate torque pulsation and radial vibration, and position sensorless control over the entire speed range. The goal of this article is to underline fundamentals of design for various parts of SRM drives namely machine, inverter and control.