Novel Two-Switch Based Switched Reluctance Motor Drive for Low-Cost Applications

A novel low cost two-switch converter for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) is proposed. The converter has a low cost single-switch-per-phase (SSPP) configuration. The drive system is realized using a two phase SRM and the proposed converter. It is capable of self starting with no auxiliary means of starting as required in conventional two phase machines and a four quadrant operation. Both of these features are quite handy in many applications. The proposed motor drive system´s model is derived from first principles and its analysis, simulation, design, and testing are developed in this paper. Experimental verification of a prototype drive system and its correlation with analytical and simulation results are presented. The proposed converter based SRM drive system is validated by experimental correlation of theoretical results. The applications for the proposed low cost converter drive system reside where both cost and performance are of concern, such as in vacuum cleaners, fans, power tools.