Classification and Analysis of Switched Reluctance Converters

Abstract

This paper reviews and analyzes converters for SRM(Switched Reluctance Motor) drive. Conventional classification focuses on the number of power switches and diodes. It is easy to find the number of semiconductors and the cost by counting the number of active components, but it does not show the important characteristics of a power converter. The voltage ratings for the power switches and diodes are also difficult to identify. This paper proposes a switched reluctance (SR) converter configuration that is classified based on the commutation type and magnetic energy path. The converter has three parts: utility interface, front-end circuit, and power converter. Based on the overview on the conventional SR drive, the most important characteristic of the converter is determined by the topology of front-end in conjunction with the power converter. An SR converter has two parts: front-end and power converter. Inasmuch as the capacitive front-end is widely used for voltage source converters, this paper focuses on topologies for the front-end.