Smooth torque control of switched reluctance machines
The switched reluctance machine (SRM) has concentrated stator windings and a rotor which does not have windings nor permanent magnets, see Figure 1. This leads to a low-cost robust construction, which gives the motor the capability to be operated at ultra-high speeds and in harsh environments. Presently, switched reluctance motor drives are used for automotive applications, house-hold goods, electric vehicles, compressors, etc.
An important drawback of the SRM is torque ripple. Conventional control
strategies based an square-wave current excitation of the stator phases
lead to a torque profile which exhibits large torque ripple. This makes
the SRM not suitable for applications where high-dynamic and smooth
torque control is required, as in the case of servo-drives.
The problem of torque ripple has been addressed in several papers in
the past two decades. The present research presents a torque control
strategy for SRMs based on the use of space vectors, in analogy to the
use of space vector theory for induction and synchronous machines.
Figure 2 shows the geometry of a 6x4 SRM and the construction of a current space vector, built from individual vectors associated with each motor phase current.
By expressing the phase values of current and inductance in terms of a zero-sequence component and a space vector magnitude and angle, a relation can be derived which yields the reference currents that realize a desired torque. In the proposed space vector torque control, a space vector associated to the quadratic phase currents is aligned with a space vector associated with the spatial inductance derivatives.
Figure 3 shows the spatial inductance derivative profile for the motor depicted in figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 show simulation results for the reference currents and the torque. It can be seen that smooth torque control is possible by means of continuously varying phase currents.
Relevant Publications
Kristof R. Geldhof, Thomas J. Vyncke, Frederik M.L.L. De Belie, Jan A.A. Melkebeek, Lieven Vandevelde, "A Space Vector Strategy for Smooth Torque Control of Switched Reluctance Machines," IEEE International Electric Machines and Drives Conference, IEMDC 2007, 3-5 May, Antalya, Turkey, proceedings on CD-rom.