Aerodynamic losses in switched reluctance machines

A computational and experimcntal study of aerodynamic losses in switclicd reluctancc machines, with particular reference to establishing the influence of various design parameters and tlie merits of various prediction techniques is reported. The flow of air around switched reluctance rotors has been calculated by a scrics of two- and three-dimensional computational fluid dyiiiniiic calculations. The results are supported by cxperimental measurements of acrodynaniic losses of a 50" diameter switched rcluclance rotor at rotational speeds up to 50000rpm. The limitations of two-dimcnsional analysis arc illustrated, and comparisons with aerodynamic losscs in other machine topologies are discusscd.