Closed-loop direct torque control for switched reluctance drives

Due to the inherent advantages, such as simple structure, ability to operate in harsh environments, fault-tolerant and four-quadrant operation, and wide speed range with high power density and high efficiency, switched reluctance motor drives (SRD) becomes a strong competitor in electric vehicle application. In vehicle propulsion the vehicle control unit expects a precise and stationary average torque of the electric drive which tracks precisely the reference torque to perform vehicle dynamic control. In this paper, a novel control strategy is presented to achieve closed-loop torque control for SRD more accurately at varying load and changing electrical input condition. Additionally, a novel method for real-time measurement of flux linkage is presented, and simulation and experimental studies have been done. Finally, the feasibility of the torque control strategy is validated with performance test of the proposed system.