A Stepped Two Phase Configuration for Switched Reluctance Motor with High Starting Torque

This paper briefly reviews the different types of Switched reluctance (SR) motors with different geometries and then presents a new configuration for a two phase SR motor with step shaped rotor poles. This motor has the ability to start and run in a specified direction without any difficulties. In another words the motor will always have starting torque no matter where the rotor position is. It also presents a centrifugal switch mounted on the motor shaft for a sudden advancement of current-pulses relative to rotor position after reaching a preset motor speed in order to develop higher torque at starting. It continues with the analysis of the machine in generator mode. To evaluate the performance of switched reluctance machine in motoring as well as generating mode, two types of analysis, namely numerical technique and experimental study have been utilized. In the numerical analysis, due to highly non-linear nature of the motor, a three dimensional finite element analysis is employed, whereas in the experimental study, a proto-type motor has been built and tested.