Non-Coupled and Mutually Coupled Switched Reluctance Machines for an E-Bike Traction Application: Pole Configurations, Design, and Comparison

Abstract

This thesis discusses the design of both a conventional non-coupled switched reluctance motor (CSRM) and a mutually-coupled SRM (MCSRM) for an exterior rotor e-bike application. Several novel pole configurations were analyzed for each machine type, and the performance of the final CSRM and MCSRM designs were compared for this application. A commercially available e-bike permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) was purchased, reverse engineered, and validated to define the geometry constraints and performance targets for the designs. Since switched reluctance motors do not use rare-earth permanent magnets, they are often seen as a potential low-cost alternative to permanent magnet machines. The goal of this research is to explain the relative advantages of CSRMs and MCSRMs when compared to PMSM machines for a direct-drive e-bike application. The final CSRM and MCSRM designs are analyzed in detail; electromagnetic, controls, thermal, and structural considerations are all studied. A prototype of the final CSRM design was manufactured and validated experimentally, using a dynamometer setup. The finalized CSRM design is shown to be competitive with the PMSM machine when considering torque output, and is superior in terms of peak efficiency, and high speed torque performance. However, the CSRM noise output and torque ripple were not compared to the PMSM, and a less-common asymmetric-bridge converter is required for the CSRM, which may hinder the ability for the machine to be implemented into existing e-bike packages. The high speed torque performance of the MCSRM is shown to be inferior to both the CSRM and PMSM, as is the torque quality and efficiency. The MCSRM is shown to be highly resistant to saturation which gives it the potential for high torque output at low speed (if thermal limits are not breached), though low saturation levels also contribute to low machine power factor. The MCSRM may be better suited to lower speed, high torque applications, for this reason.