Evaluation of rotor conducting screens on the single-phase switched reluctance machine

The single-phase switched reluctance machine has a simple and robust construction and is suitable for high-speed operation. Torque production is a function of the difference between the aligned and unaligned inductance, and increasing this difference theoretically will increase the torque. In this article, conducting screens are incorporated into the rotor of a prototype 2/2 single-phase switched reluctance motor. The effect of the conducting screens on current response, flux linkage, and output torque is evaluated using finite element analysis and validated experimentally. At fixed current conduction angles, conducting screens improve the rate of change of inductance at low speed, and enhance performance at high speed when the machine operates in the single voltage pulse mode. The conducting screens have a negative effect on the output torque when using optimal commutation angles. Reasons for this phenomenon are given.