A switched-reluctance servo drive

Switched reluctance motors (SRM) have been proposed for many applications from domestic appliances to traction drives. While their benefits have been pointed out in many publications, problems with torque oscillations and audible noise are normally mentioned as drawbacks compared with other concepts. In this respect, the SRM would not appear to be a candidate for servo motor drives. This paper reports results of a project, in which such a motor was given an optimized design and appropriate supply and control, so as to meet the requirements of a servo motor drive. The results obtained from a prototype show the possibilities and limitations of a SRM for this application