The SRC4/300-05 is a state-of-the-art controller for Switched Reluctance Motors (SRM). It brings together the intelligence and capability of FPGA's with IGBT power electronics technology in one smart and compact drive, for the control of switched reluctance motors.
The controller is intended for laboratory use, to test 2- to 4-phase switched reluctance motors up to 300Vdc bus voltage, primarily trapezoidal commutation mode. It allows the user to freely define current switching angles, supported by incremental encoder feedback. In the final customer application, Hall-effect or other simple feedback sensors may be used instead of an encoder.

Key features:

  • Compatible with 2-, 3- and 4-phase switched reluctance motors
  • Block current commutation, switched at user-defined firing angles
  • Interface for incremental encoder (5V, TTL)
  • Full 4-quadrant operation in current/torque or speed control mode
  • DC-Link supply voltage range of 24 to 300Vdc
  • Rated continuous phase current of 5Arms
  • Peak phase current of 15Arms for 1.5 secs
  • 20 KHz PWM switching frequency
  • Under- and overvoltage, overcurrent monitor
  • Extension interface for external chopper for dissipation of regenerative energy
  • Fully configurable PC control, via RS232, SRC-MON PC-software supplied

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Applications of switched reluctance motors

Switched reluctance motors are used in the following cases:

  • Where cost optimisation is a key requirement
  • Robustness / ruggedisation are key requirements

Cost: as switched reluctance motors do not contain permanent magnets, this has a significant cost reduction impact. It also has to be said, however, that switched reluctance motors have less power density and less torque density than PMSM motors.

Robustness: In contrast to a PMSM (BLDC) motor, the rotor of a switched reluctance motor has no magnets glued to the rotor hub. Instead, the rotor hub consists only of steel laminations. So, no magnets can degrade over time, or be damaged. No magnets can fly off due to high centrifugal forces. The issue of adhesive failing at elevated temperatures is eliminated. In other words, there are less points of failure than in a PMSM motor.

Our switched and synchronous reluctance motors can be found here.