The Flux-MMF diagram technique and its applications in analysis and comparative evaluation of electrical machines

The thesis describes a new technique, called the flux-MMF diagram technique, for analysis and comparative evaluation of electrical machines. The technique has evolved from the principle of virtual work, and the -i diagram, used commonly in designing switched reluctance machines and relays. Several applications of this technique are demonstrated in the thesis, supported by experimental validation. These are, the prediction of electromagnetic and cogging torque ripple, modelling of the effect of skew on torque and torque ripple, modelling of the variation of torque constant due to saturation, and comparative evaluation of different types of electrical machines. The thesis shows that the technique can be applied successfully in analysis of a wide variety of electrical machines. These include conventional machines such as the DC commutator, PM brushless AC, Interior PM, and the synchronous reluctance machine; as well as non-conventional machines such as the switched reluctance, PM brushless DC, and the doubly-salient PM machine. The technique has been implemented in a finite-element software, with the help of a link program which links the FE software with the dimensioning or sizing software, such as PC-BDC, produced by the SPEED Laboratory. The link program serves as a vital means of shortening the time it takes to analyse a new design in an FE software, by several orders of magnitude. The thesis also describes a new brushless doubly-salient permanent-magnet machine, called the flux-reversal machine. The design and fabrication process, and the experimental results are presented for a prototype single-phase, high-speed flux-reversal generator. The performance analysis of the prototype based on the flux-MMF diagram technique is included, and this validates its capability in analysing new and non-conventional machines, which cannot be analysed using the classical means

Aspects of magnetisation and iron loss characteristics in switched-reluctance and permanent-magnet machines

In the first section, the magnetisation characteristics of the switched-reluctance motor are examined. Measurements have been carried out using both static and dynamic test methods. The test data has been compared with simulation results from analytical design programs and finite element models. The effects of mutual coupling on the magnetisation characteristics are investigated through measurement and simulation. Results show that the degree of mutual coupling is strongly dependent on the winding arrangement of the machine. In the next section, the difficulties in measuring the properties of permanent-magnet machines are discussed in detail, and solutions to common problems proposed. The measurement and analysis methods used for the switched-reluctance motor are further developed for analysis of permanent magnet machines. Techniques for determining the variation in synchronous reactances and permanent magnet flux are presented. Finite element simulations are used to show the variation of magnet flux under loading, a condition ignored in classical analysis methods. The final section discusses the analysis of magnetisation characteristics of electrical sheet steels. Comparison is made between measurements carried out on single sheet tester and Epstein square test rigs. The iron losses of a typical non-grain-orientated steel are measured under both sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal flux density conditions. The iron losses are shown to increase significantly when higher harmonic components are introduced to the flux density waveform. The difficulties in modelling the nonlinear iron loss characteristics of electrical steels are considered

High-Performance Control of Switched Reluctance Motors

A general high bandwidth, low ripple, instantaneous torque control strategy with a variable field-angle for extended constant-power speed range is presented. The strategy is based on the SR motor's electromagnetic characteristics measured at the motor terminals and is the nearest functional equivalent to AC vector control for this type of machine. Low torque ripple and high bandwidth are achieved over a wide range of speeds and a constant power range of 3:1. The proposed controller, which is applicable to most SR motors, is found to reduce the torque ripple by a factor of 5 in comparison with conventional square-wave current operation, and has been operated over a speed range of 1:6000

Design and Construction Modifications of Switched Reluctance Machines

Although the design principles of the Switched Reluctance Machines (SRMs) are available in different fragments in numerous bibliography positions, there no exists the complex design procedure of whole drive system taking into account the SR Machine, control system and supply device as well. The hybrid design method for SRM drives with application of new analytical calculation methods, finite element method and simulation models is proposed in this thesis. The calculation/design system is characterised by important effectivity and reliability. The new possibilities in analytical determination of saturation effects and core losses under various modes of control, including sensorless method, are also taken into account. The correctness of the proposed design algorithms are verified by laboratory tests made on three motor prototypes manufactured in industry for concrete application. This dissertation provides the elements indispensable for more accurate and complex analysis and design of drives with switch reluctance motors. The elements of electrical motor and control system design as well as the considerations on the choice of supply device and controller subsystems are jointed in the thesis for final receiving of the design tool for considered industrial drive system

Control of switched reluctance machines

This thesis is concerned with the control of switched reluctance machines for both motoring and generating applications. There are different control objectives in each case. For motoring operation, there are two possible control objectives. If the SRM is being employed in a servo-type application, the desire is for a constant output torque. However, for low performance applications where some amount of torque ripple is acceptable, the aim is to achieve efficient and accurate speed regulation. When the SRM is employed for generating purposes, the goal is to maintain the dc bus voltage at the required value while achieving maximum efficiency. Preliminary investigative work on switched reluctance machine control in both motoring and generating modes is performed. This includes the implementation and testing through simulation of two control strategies described in the literature. In addition, an experimental system is built for the development and testing of new control strategies. The inherent nonlinearity of the switched reluctance machine results in ripple in the torque profile. This adversely affects motoring performance for servo-type applications. Hence, three neuro-fuzzy control strategies for torque ripple minimisation in switched reluctance motors are developed. For all three control strategies, the training of a neurofuzzy compensator and the incorporation of the trained compensator into the overall switched reluctance drive are described. The performance of the control strategies in reducing the torque ripple is examined with simulations and through experimental testing. While the torque ripple is troublesome for servo-type applications, there are some applications where a certain amount of torque ripple is acceptable. Therefore, four simple motor control strategies for torque ripple-tolerant applications are described and tested experimentally. Three of the control strategies are for low speed motoring operation while the fourth is aimed at high speed motoring operation. Finally, three closed-loop generator control strategies aimed at high speed operation in single pulse mode are developed. The three control strategies are examined by testing on the experimental system. A comparison of the performance of the control strategies in terms of efficiency and peak current produced by each is presented

A study of fault and generating operation of the switched reluctance machine

No abstract available

Sensorless Control for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives

The thesis presents the work carried out on two methods for indirect sensing of the rotor position in switched reluctance motors. In the first method, PWM voltage control is used to control the motor. The method, called current gradient sensorless method, uses the change of the derivative of the phase current to detect the position where a rotor pole and stator pole start to overlap, giving one position update per energy conversion stroke. As no a priori knowledge of motor parameters is required (except for the numbers of stator and rotor poles), the method is applicable to most switched reluctance motor topologies in a wide power and speed range and for several inverter topologies. A single current sensor and detection stage is enough to drive a multiphase SRM. To start up the motor a feedforward method is used which assures robust start-up from stand-still up to a minimum speed even under load. The method is comparable to the back-EMF position estimation for brushless DC motors in performance and cost. The major contributions to the current gradient sensorless method are its real-time implementation, its experimental test and the reduction of current sensors and detection stages from three to one. The second method proposes a principle of high resolution sensorless position estimation for a switched reluctance motor drive, using either flux linkage or current to correct for errors in rotor position. The estimation algorithm makes full use of the nonlinear magnetic characteristics of the SRM through correlation of current, flux linkage and rotor position. The estimation model is simple, but with no loss in accuracy, leading to few real-time computations. Furthermore, a criterion is proposed to choose the phase most suited for position estimation when more than one phase conducts. The algorithm can also predict flux linkage, which in turn may be used to correct the position estimate further, and the features of this are discussed. The major contributions to this algorithm are the use of a simpler model for the observer, the introduction of a novel method to estimate the rotor position form the best phase from all conducting phases, and the experimental validation of the algorithm. Simulation and experimental results, which include steady-state with and without load, and dynamic transient tests, are presented, and confirm the concept and the robust functionality of both methods. The detailed operation and real-time implementation of both methods are described. However, it should be noted that these methods present advantages and disadvantages as other methods proposed before in the literature. Therefore, it is fair to say that these methods cannot replace in fully the mechanical sensor such as encoder or resolver, however they can offer a simpler and a better way than previous methods to estimate the rotor position. A second topic covered in this thesis is a functionality study of the classic switched reluctance motor inverter utilising a resonant dc-link to provide current regulation with zero-voltage switching. Although this topic is not directly related to the major part of the thesis on sensorless control, it is important in the wider study of power electronic converters for SR machines, and could form the basis for extended research in the combination of soft switching and sensorless control

Design and initial testing of a high speed 45 kW switched reluctance drive for aerospace application

This paper presents innovative research towards the development of a 45 kW high speed switched reluctance drive as an alternative starter-generator for future aero-engines. To perform such a function the machine had to be designed with a very wide constant power-speed range. During engine-start/motoring mode, a peak torque demand of 54 Nm at 8 krpm was met, whilst in generating mode, 19.2-32 krpm, the machine was designed to deliver a constant power of 45 kW. The key enabling feature of the design lies in the novel rotor structure developed so as to allow for such a wide speed range. The results presented, are those measured during the initial testing phase and validate the system design and performance in the low-speed region with the machine operated in starting-mode. The measured machine power density is at 9.8 kW/ltr, whilst the global system efficiency is at 82%