A new control method and reliability improvement for a switched reluctance motor drive

This paper presents a new control method and a new fault-tolerant drive system for a switched reluctance motor. The design, simulation, and implementation of a three-phase, 7.5 kW, eight-pole switched reluctance motor under field-oriented control are described. A speed-loop controller design based on field-oriented control and an algebraic optimization method is discussed. By using this new control method, the speed response and load disturbance rejection capability of the switched reluctance motor drive system are improved. In addition, two strategies are proposed to maintain the speed of the switched reluctance motor constant while one leg of the inverter is opened or shorted. These strategies allow the torque of the motor to be held constant in spite of such occurrences. Detailed implementation of this drive system is described. Experimental results have validated the theoretical analysis.