High dynamic direct average torque control for switched reluctance drives

In switched reluctance machines, no proportionality between torque and phase current exists as in rotating field machines. Therefore, a new technique was developed to estimate online average electromagnetic torque of an SRM drive. This novel average torque and energy-ratio estimation technique can be used for closed-loop torque control. Different control architectures for closed-loop average torque control are analyzed and evaluated in this paper because multiple methods exist to track the average torque by adjusting the control variables (/spl theta//sub on/, /spl theta//sub off/, i/sub ref/). The switched reluctance drive controller used in this study was developed for a 55 kW electric-vehicle traction drive. Hence, the system is controlled by a torque command set by the driver. Experimental results obtained from a 100 kW test bed for traction drives are presented.