Analysis of maximum torque per ampere control strategy for variable reluctance synchronous machines for traction applications

Nowadays there is a serious trend to design electrical machines for propulsion units as cheep as possible. Machines that lack the permanent magnets having performances close to those that embed permanents magnets represent now the main interest in this field. Such a machine is the variable reluctance synchronous machine. Being derived from the family of synchronous machines is field oriented controlled. In the present paper one particular such machine is presented in detail designed for automotive applications. An analytical model is also presented used later to implement the maximum torque per ampere control, considering this strategy as being the one suitable for such applications. The simulation program is built in Matlab Simulink presented together with the control strategy and the results. The model of the machine takes into account both saturation and iron losses.