Usage of the inductive energy storage in the field winding for driving the variable reluctance motor

In automotive systems, reliability and cost are paramount for the success of electrical drive systems. Considering the switched reluctance motor (SRM), the power electronics cost dominates the total cost of the electrical drive. In this respect, especially the dc-link capacitor significantly contributes to the total bill of the material. This paper proposes the use of a dc-excited winding in an 8/6 SRM as a means of reducing the capacitor. The energy conversion of the motor is analyzed intensively. The control algorithm of the field winding is investigated and an active control algorithm is proposed to provide and absorb the energy in parallel with the dc-link capacitor. The effectiveness of this control method is confirmed by the cosimulation between the finite-element method and the Simulink.