SINGLE-SENSOR CURRENT REGULATION IN SWITCHED RELUCTANCE MOTOR-DRIVES

This paper reports on progress made in the operation of switched reluc tance machines with simultaneous excitation of multiple phases using j ust a single current sensor. This avoids individual current sensors in each motor phase, without compromising the drive performance. A new t echnique for operation of the classic two-transistor-per-phase convert er with only one current sensor is presented, allowing two phases to b e excited simultaneously, The detailed operation and implementation of this technique is shown, together with test results and comparisons w ith normal operation with one current sensor per phase. The paper conc ludes that adding a very simple electronic circuit to the existing mot or control circuitry allows single-current-sensor operation with uncom promised performance. This is the first time a paper discusses the top ic of multiphase switched reluctance motor (SRM) excitation using a mi nimum number of current sensors.