Vector control of a synchronous reluctance motor including saturation and iron loss

The application of vector control to a conventional synchronous reluctance motor (VCSynRM) is presented with emphasis on the effects of saturation and iron losses. It is shown experimentally that these parasitic effects can significantly influence the performance of a VCSynRM. A synchronous reference frame steady state model of SynRM including saturation and iron losses is developed. The behavior of a vector-controlled SynRM is analyzed based on the model. It is observed that saturation and iron losses can have a significant effect on the performance of a VCSynRM. To verify the validity of the model for vector control, a digital signal processor (DSP) based vector controller was built for a 7.5 hp SynRM to experimentally evaluate performance. Experimental results concerning optimal torque/ampere and optimal efficiency operation are shown to be in general agreement with the predictions of the model