Comparative Study of Various Converter Topologies of Switched Reluctance Motor Drive Using P-Spice

Abstract

Switched reluctance motor (SRM) has become a competitive selection for many applications of electric machine drive systems recently due to its relative simple construction and robustness. The advantages of those motors are high reliability, easy maintenance and good performance. The absence of permanent magnets and windings in rotor gives possibility to achieve very high speeds (over 10000 rpm) and turned SRM into perfect solution for operation in hard conditions like presence of vibrations or impacts. Such simple mechanical structure greatly reduces its price. Due to these features, SRM drives are used more and more into aerospace, automotive and home applications. The switched reluctance motor drive consists of converter and rotor position sensor. The aim of this research is to study the various converter topologies of the switched reluctance motor drive using P-SPICE. To accomplish this aim, the following objectives have to be conducted: 1. A study of the fundamental background of the SRM design, applications, and theory of operation is done. 2. All converter topologies which have been used as an SRM drive circuits in the literature are to be studied. 3. A comparison has to be done between the various converter topologies used for the switch reluctance motors drive system on the basis of phase current waveform, fourier analysis and total harmonic distortion. The simulation of various converter topologies of switched reluctance motor drive is done using P-SPICE. Using P-SPICE the harmonic and fourier analysis of various converter is done and it is found that asymmetric bridge converter is most suitable for high speed applications because it has less fall times of current as compared to other converter topologies and less shoot through faults in this topology also. The comparative merits and demerits of the various converter is also discussed.