Abstract
Switched reluctance motors (SR motors) have many advantages, such as simple and robust construction,low manufacturing cost, high reliability in high temperatures, and high torque density. However, their high torque ripple due to magnetic saliency is a serious problem that has prevented an expansion of the range of their applications. In this paper, we propose a new drive method for torque ripple minimization using freewheeling mode. The method requires only a change in the timing of switching, and is therefore easy to implement in low-cost systems. FEM simulations and experiments yielded some interesting results. Torque ripple was decreased, especially at low speed, and the average torque was improved without any reduction in efficiency.
