Noise cancellation of 6/4 switched reluctance machine by piezoelectric actuators: Optimal design and placement using genetic algorithm

This paper presents an optimal design and placement of piezoelectric inserts (PZT) applied in order to reduce vibration of a 6/4 switched reluctance machine (SRM). The aim of this method is to reduce acoustic noise for SRM. Piezoelectric inserts are considered as actuators: from vibratory acceleration measurement on SRM stator, an adequate voltage is applied to inserts and consequently imposes forces on SRM. Those adequate forces compensate the structure strain originated by electromagnetic, aerodynamic and mechanical forces. The optimal design and placement of these actuators are obtained by a stochastic optimization, the genetic algorithm NSGA-II. With optimal results of actuator design and placement, finite element results validate the principle. A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) experimental compensation method based on positive position feedback (PPF) theory is applied to the actuators control in order to quantify the vibration reduction and demonstrates the efficiency of this method.