Design and Implementation of a Novel Single-Phase Switched Reluctance Motor Drive System

Abstract

Single phase switched reluctance machines (SRMs) have a special place in the emerging high-volume, low-cost and low-performance applications in appliances and also in high-speed low-power motor drives in various industrial applications. Single phase SRMs have a number of drawbacks: low power density as they have only 50% utilization of windings, lack of self-starting feature unless otherwise built in to the machine, most of the times with permanent magnets or sometimes with distinct and special machine rotor configurations or additional mechanisms. Many of these approaches are expensive or make the manufacturing process more difficult. In order to overcome such disadvantages a method involving interpoles and windings is discussed in this research. Also, a new and novel converter topology requiring only a single switch and a single diode is realized.

This research tests the concepts and feasibility of this new single-phase SRM motor topology and converter in one quadrant operation. The converter electronics and a simple minimum component, minimum cost analog converter are designed and implemented. The entire system is simulated and evaluated on its advantages and disadvantages. Simple testing without load is performed.

This system has a large number of possibilities for development. Due to its lightweight, compact design and efficient, variable high-speed operation, the system might find many applications in pumps, fans, and drills.