Investigation of the mechanical constraints on the design of a super-high-speed Switched Reluctance Motor for automotive traction

This paper presents a novel Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) for automotive traction applications. The electromagnetic and mechanical simulation results of the proposed motor are presented for operation at 50,000 rpm. The SRM is designed to withstand the rotor stresses due to the centrifugal force whilst producing an output power of 60kW. The simulation results confirm that the stresses forced on the rotor in the proposed topology are below the yield strength of the material with a safety factor of 1.2. Fatigue life may be an issue and will be investigated in the future. The high speed operation allows for a smaller overall size, which in turn leads to lower manufacturing costs. This combined with high output power makes this design a good candidate for use in mass production hybrid electric vehicles.