What is switched reluctance motor?

The switched reluctance motor (SRM) is an electric motor that runs by reluctance torque.
Unlike common brushed DC motor types, power is delivered to windings in the stator (case)
rather than the rotor. Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) is also known as Variable Reluctance
Motor.

The property of a magnetic circuit of opposing the passage of magnetic flux lines, equal to the
ratio of the magneto motive force to the magnetic flux. Due to higher efficiency, magnet-less
operation, and simple mechanical structure, SRM becomes the most preferable electric motor
for latest electric vehicle applications. A recently advanced version of SR technology has been
used to power Tesla Model 3 electric car and claimed a significant increase in range compared
to the induction motor.

Working Principle of switched reluctance motor - This motor works on the principle of variable
reluctance. This means, the rotor always tries to align along the lowest reluctance path.

As we know that magnetic flux has a tendency to ow through lowest reluctance path,
therefore rotor always tends to align along the minimum reluctance path. This is the basic
working principle of Switched Reluctance Motor or Variable Reluctance Motor.

Construction of SRM - Variable Reluctance Motor or Switched Reluctance Motor has two
different constructions: -

1. Singly Salient Construction

2. Doubly Salient Construction

Stator and rotor magnetic circuits are laminated to reduce the core losses in both type of SRM.

The SRM is constituted by a stator with concentrated windings disposed around polar cores
and by arotor composed by salient poles free of windings or magnets. Normally, each stator
phase is composedby a couple of windings diametrically opposed.

In Figure 1 a SRM configuration of 6 stator poles and 4 rotor poles is shown.

 Figure 1: SRM configuration of 6 stator poles and 4 rotor poles Image Source : www.intechopen.com

When a stator phase is magnetized, a closed magnetic field is generated between the stator, the
air gap and the rotor.
This magnetic field tends to minimize the reluctance by reducing the air gap which creates a
rotor movement. When a stator pole is aligned with a rotor pole, it is said that they are in the
position of minimum reluctance, and when they are completely unaligned, it is said they are in
the position of maximum reluctance.
This characteristic of the motor makes it possible to create a rotational movement of the
rotor by magnetizing and demagnetizing each phase in the right position of the rotor.

SRM Motor Characteristics - Characteristics of SRM motor are listed below,

 Synchronous operation.
 Low-cost motor due to simple and magnet-free construction.
 More suitable for high-speed/power density applications.

Advantage of SRM - Advantages of switched reluctance motor are listed below,

It does not require an external ventilation system as the stator and rotor slots projected. The air
owmaintained between the slots. The rotor does not have winding since therefore no need to keep
the carbon brush and slip ring assembly.
Since the absence of a permanent magnet, such motors are available at a cheaper price.A simple
three or two-phase pulse generator is enough to drive the motor.
The direction of the motor can be reversed by changing the phase sequence. Self-starting and does
not require external arrangements.
Starting torque can be very high without excessive inrush currents.High Fault Tolerance. Phase
losses do not affect motor operations. High torque/inertia ratio. High starting torque can be
achieved.
Disadvantage of Switched reluctance motor - Disadvantages of switched reluctance motor are
listed below,
 Creates Torque ripple at high-speed operation. The external rotor position sensor is
required. Noise level is high.
 At a higher speed, the motor generates harmonics, to reduce this, we need to install larger
sizecapacitors.
 Since the absence of a Permanent Magnet, the motor has to designed to carry a high input
current. Itincreases the converter KVA requirement.
Application of SRM
The simple motor structure and inexpensive power electronic requirement have made the SRM an
attractive alternative to both AC and DC machines in adjustable-speed drives.

Few of such applications are listed below – General-purpose industrial drives Application-
specific drives: compressors, fans, pumps, centrifuges; Domestic drives: food processors, washing
machines, vacuum cleaners;
Electric vehicle application - Aircraft applications;Servo-drive.

Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM)

Switched reluctance motor works based on the variable reluctance principle. The rotating
magnetic field is created with the help of power electronics switching circuit.

The main concept is the reluctance of the magnetic circuit is depending upon the air gap.Hence,
by changing the air gap between the rotor and stator, we can change the reluctance of the
motor

Note: reluctance is nothing but a resistance to the magnetic flux. (Opposes the magnetic
flux. For Electrical circuit it is resistance and magnetic circuit it is reluctance).

Construction of SRM

In switched reluctance motor, the stator and rotor have projected pole made up of softiron
and silicon stampings. Silicon stamping is used to reduce hysteresis losses.

Stator => Inward projection Rotor

=> Outward projection.

The rotor does not have winding and stator only carries main field winding. Each windingin
the stator is connected in series with the opposite poles to increase the MMF of the circuit. It
is called phase winding. Refer to fig 1.1 AA’, BB’ and CC’.
 Pole concern, the number of poles in the stator will be around 6 to 8 numbers. But the rotor
carries less number of poles with respect to the stator. The rotor poles will be 4 to 8numbers.

By increasing the number of poles we can get a low angle of rotation from the motor. Therotor’s
shaft is mounted with a position sensor. The position sensor is used to determine the position
of the rotor by a control circuit.

The control circuit always collects the information of the rotor position and based on that the
controller gives the input to the motor.

Block diagram of SRM

The DC input is connected to the driver/converter circuit and the output is connected to the
motor. The rotor sensor’s feedback wire is connected to the controller circuit and it provides
the position of the rotor with reference to the reference axis.