Low-noise, high rotor pole switched reluctance motor

A method for estimating number of rotor poles for a high rotor pole switched reluctance machine (HRSRM) comprising a rotor including a plurality of rotor poles and a stator including a plurality of stator poles each having a plurality of windings, and providing a plurality of combinations of the rotor poles and stator poles, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) energizing at least one stator pole, wherein each of the windings of a remainder of stator poles is in an open circuit state;
• (b) applying current to the at least one stator pole;
• (c) inducing a magnetic flux, the magnetic flux following a path through the plurality of stator poles;
• (d) storing a maximum number of independent flux paths (Fp) in the stator when stator and rotor poles are fully aligned;
• (e) calculating a number of phases (m);
• (f) determining a number of stator poles (Sn) utilizing a mathematical formula:
• Sn=m×Fp,
• wherein Fp>2, m>1, m and Fp are independent variables, the number of phases and the number of independent flux paths determines the plurality of combinations of the stator poles and rotor poles;
• and
• (g) estimating the number of rotor poles (Rn) utilizing a mathematical formula:
• Rn=2Sn−Fp.