Control and Delay Compensation Techniques for High-Speed Operation In a Switched Reluctance Motor Drive

Abstract

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are becoming popular in motor drive applications due to their simple construction, fault tolerance, and cost-effectiveness, making them well-suited for electric vehicles. However, SRMs face operational challenges at high speeds, where controller and position feedback delays may hinder smooth operation and efficiency. These challenges might limit the adoption of SRM in high-performance applications. This thesis addresses high-speed SRM control issues, focusing on delay compensation in both motoring and generating modes. Gain-scheduling PWM controller improvements and delay compensation strategies are presented to reduce the impact of position and switching delays at high-speed operation. Additionally, a four-quadrant SRM controller is proposed to enable smooth operation mode transitions and improved regenerative braking capability. A dedicated experimental setup with a three-phase 12/8 SRM connected to an electric dynamometer machine is built to validate the proposed techniques and demonstrate the improvements in the phase excitation accuracy and balance in phase currents at high speeds. The experimental results support the potential of these control methods to enhance SRM performance in high-speed applications, providing valuable insights for further improvement in electric vehicle drive train applications.