Control of a linear switched reluctance motor as a propulsion system for autonomous railway vehicles

A linear switched reluctance drive with large airgap was developed and manufactured for a test track of autonomous railway vehicles (RailCab). Control structure and current shaping algorithms are presented providing smooth transitions between the motoring and dynamic braking operation modes at low switching losses. In both modes low force and torque ripples are maintained with reasonable efficiency. The control is tested on the rotational variant of the motor. Details of the test bench and measurements of phase currents, force or torque, respectively, and efficiency are presented.