Magnetic Characterisation of a Switched Reluctance Motor

Adrian-Cornel Pop, Vlad Petrus, Claudia Steluta Martis Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania Johan Gyselinck Universit Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Copyright 2011 MC2D & MITI

Abstract SRMs are not yet very commonly used but have some undeniable advantages for industrial applications and for vehicle traction compared to more classical machine types (squirrel-cage induction machines, IMs, and permanent-magnet synchronous machines, PMSMs). Construction wise the rotor of SRMs is very simple and robust (absence of windings and permanent magnets) and this also applies to some extent to the stator (small number of coils on salient poles). As a result SRMs are cheap and robust, and very suitable for high-speed applications as well as for harsh environment applications such as EVs and HEVs (high temperature and/or vibrations). Despite its simple configuration and principle of operation, the SRM is distinguished, as compared to other electric machines, through its complicate behavior caused by its strongly nonlinear magnetic circuit. Thereby, the need for determination of the magnetization characteristics occurs. The process is further complicated for an existing machine for which datasheet is not available.

An effective procedure should offer as high as possible accuracy of the i curves, along with low-cost experimental equipment. Extensive work has been carried out in the field using different methods. Such curves can be analytically expressed [1], [2], FE computed [1]-[4] or measured. Different methods of determination through measurements have been developed which can be classified either by the type of the supply (step voltage or AC) or the measured quantity (currents in the stator winding or torque, if a high precision torque transducer is available). Finally the differences may occur when the integration is executed by numerical means or using electronic integrating circuits [3]. In this paper the electrical parameters for an 8/6 SRM are identified based on measured flux linkage characteristics. The used methodology is described along with the influence of the magnetic core effects (i.e. eddy currents) on the measured characteristics, using the lamination model developed in [5]. Results of measurements, analytical and FE calculations are given in Tests and Measurements section. Conclusions and future work are drawn at the end. References
[1] R. Krishnam, Switched Reluctance Motor Drives Modelling, Simulation, Analysis, Design and Applications, CRC Press, 2001 [2] T.J.E. Miller, Switched Reluctance Motors and their Control, Magna Physics Publishing, Oxford, 1993 [3] R. Krishnan, P. Materu, Measurements and Instrumentation of Swithced Reluctance Motor Proc. IEEE Ind. Applicat. Soc. Annual Meeting, 1989 [4] C.S. Dragu, R. Belmans Measurement of Magnetic Characteristics of Switched Reluctance Motors, IEEE 10 th Conf. Power Electr. Appli., Sept 2003 [5] J. Gyselinck, M.De Wulf, L. Vandevelde, J. Melkebeek, Incorporation of Vector Hysteresis and Eddy Current Losses in 2D FE Magnetodynamics, 1999