Optimum Switching Angles Control of SRM for Electric Vehicle Applications

Abstract

Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) drive is being gradually used in industrial applications, including electric vehicles (EVs), due to several advantages over conventional motors. However, the nonlinear magnetic characteristics of the motor make its controller very complicated. This paper presents a simplified procedure to obtain the optimal switching angles under hysteresis current control SRM drive over a wide range of speeds. A multi-objective optimization technique is applied to determine the optimal switch on and switch off angles that achieve the optimum combination of maximum average torque with minimum torque ripple and copper loss. A searching algorithm is developed for each operating point to define the maximum average torque and the minimum torque ripple and copper losses, as they vary for different currents and motor speeds. Then the optimal values of switching angles are stored in the lookup tables to build a MATLAB model of the SRM drive system. Finally, simulation and experimental results are presented to show the validity and effectiveness of the proposed controller.