Voltage control of switched reluctance machines for hybrid electric vehicles

The rugged low-cost construction and constant power profile of a switched reluctance motor (SRM) make it suitable for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). This paper describes the development of a voltage-based control strategy for a SRM. The controller design is influenced by project constraints and goals as well as the use of a new power topology. A prototype SRM and controller were built and fully tested to validate the SRM design and to develop a set of rules and equations for controlling the motor. Particular emphasis was given to developing a simple practical control strategy that was suitable for an HEV application and not trying to develop a more sophisticated strategy that could not be justified in terms of increased development time and implementation cost.