A new technique for multidimensional performance optimization of switched reluctance motors for vehicle propulsion

This paper presents a new and simple search technique to determine the optimum control parameters, such as turn-on and turn-off angles, current set level, etc., of a switched reluctance drive. Thanks to this new technique, several drive performance quantities such as efficiencies, torque ripple, energy consumption, torque per ampere, etc., can be optimized simultaneously over the entire torque- or power-speed operation range of the drive. In prior work, these performance quantities were sequentially optimized, one at a time, this despite reported evidence that improving one performance quantity, such as efficiency, can have a negative impact on others, such as torque ripple. The technique was successfully used offline to determine the optimum firing angles for achieving highest drive efficiency with lower torque ripple in a 102-kW switched reluctance motor drive intended for electric vehicle propulsion. The performance prediction and test results are found in good correlation.