Electronic rotor position sensing of switched reluctance motor

The Switched Reluctance Motor (hereafter referred to as SRM) requires rotor position information for successful operation. The rotor position, in the present day, is obtained through a mechanical/electrical sensor mounted on the rotor shaft. These transducers are expensive and take additional space on the rotor shaft.

An alternative scheme of rotor position sensing is proposed in this thesis which overcomes the disadvantages of existing position sensors. This is achieved by injecting a high frequency control level signal on the stator windings and measuring the response. The response is an indirect measure of the rotor position.

The principle, design, and implementation of the sensor is described in this thesis. The proposed sensor is inexpensive compared to the available sensors and is expected to find applications in small and medium size SRM drives.