US 5,705,918 A · Switched reluctance generators

Abstract

A switched reluctance generator is controlled such that flux growth in a phase winding occurs at a faster rate during the initial part of the phase inductance cycle and at a second, slower rate during the subsequent part of the phase inductance cycle. The difference between flux growth and decay may be achieved either by applying different voltages during the two parts of the phase inductance cycle or by applying the same voltage over only part of the phase winding during the initial part of the phase inductance cycle and then applying that voltage across the phase winding thereafter. It is advantageous to make the increase in flux more rapid than its decay because minimizing the length of time that the flux is present while the phase inductance is rising will minimize the production of unwanted (motoring) torque.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A switched reluctance generator system comprising a rotor;

a stator having at least one phase winding, switch means, means for supplying energy to the phase winding according to actuation of the switch means, means for rotating the rotor relative to the stator and control means operable to control the switch means, the control means being arranged to actuate the switch means for supplying energy at a first voltage across at least part of the phase winding to cause flux growth at a first rate during a first part of a phase inductance cycle, and being arranged to actuate the switch means to switch a second voltage across the phase winding to cause flux decay at a second rate, which second rate of decay is slower than the first rate of flux growth, rotation of the rotor causing energy to be supplied at the second voltage from the phase winding during the second part of the phase inductance cycle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Switched reluctance generators

Life of this patent

Switched reluctance generators

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24