SPICE Simulation of a SRM Considering the Nonlinear Magnetization Characteristics

Abstract

The switched reluctance motor (SRM) exhibits desirable features including simple construction, high reliability and low cost. However the SRM has not been put into practical applications widely because of its large torque ripple, acoustic noise and low power factor. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis and optimum design of the SRM have not been clarified thoroughly. In this paper, the authors propose one method for calculating the operating characteristics of the SRM based on the general-purpose circuit simulation program “SPICE”. In the method, we use a SPICE model of the nonlinear reluctance based on the magnetization curves calculated by FEM in order to consider the nonlinear magnetization characteristics. The calculated results obtained in the trial 8/6 SRM show good agreement with the experimental ones. The method is useful for optimum design of the SRM.