Position detection and drive of a toroidal switched reluctance motor (TSRM) using search coils

A position detection and drive system of a toroidal switched reluctance motor (TSRM) using search coils is presented. The low cost and robust characteristics of the proposed rotor position detection scheme are focused on, to improve on the disadvantages of existing position sensors. Search coils, wound around the stator poles, are used for detection of the rotor position in the TSRM. Rotor position detection is achieved using the voltage waveform induced by the time-varying flux linkage in the search coils, and then the appropriate phases are excited to drive an SRM. The experimental results support the validity of the proposed scheme by verifying the operation of a 6/4 pole TSRM using detection of a particular point from the waveform induced in the search coil.