Prediction of rotor position at standstill and rotating shaft conditions in switched reluctance machines

Development of a reliable, smooth, and precise position sensorless startup routine is an integral part of the switched reluctance machine (SRM) control. The proposed sensorless startup method presented in this paper presents high grade performance and does not require additional hardware or memory. Further, the proposed sensorless technique is extended to rotating shaft conditions. These capabilities are highly demanded by automotive applications such as starter/alternator and electric power steering systems. An assessment of the impact of motor parameters and diagnostic signal measurement on the quality of the sensorless startup method is also included. This will help practicing engineers to make judicious selections for implementation of the proposed technique. Experimental and theoretical results are included to validate our claims.