Sensorless switched reluctance starter/generator performance

This article compares the performance of a high speed switched reluctance starter/generator (SR S/G) system when operating with a resolver to that when operating resolverless, or sensorless. The SR SIG system is a 270 Vdc system that performs two primary functions. The first is to start a gas turbine engine using an available source of 270 Vdc power. The second is to extract power from the gas turbine engine to generate 270 Vdc, with power quality defined by MIL-STD-704E. In addition to the control requirements for the different modes of operation, the system includes extensive protection functions to ensure that proper action is taken in the event that certain parameters of the system exceed operational limits. The system must be capable of the same control and protection operation, when running sensorless, as it is when operating with the resolver. Extensive system testing has been carried out on the SR SIG system using resolver-based rotor position sensing. For future applications, however, there is the desire to eliminate the resolver and operate in a resolverless, or sensorless, mode. This article compares the performance of the system for both start and generate modes of operation for tests performed on a high-speed dynamometer