Self-tuning control of switched-reluctance motor drive system

A method for controlling a switched-reluctance motor, the switched-reluctance motor receiving a current during at least a portion of a time that the motor is operating, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a control variable for controlling the indicative value of torque per ampere of the motor, the control variable being selected from at least one of a turn-on time value of the current and a turn-off time value of the current;
• operating the motor at a first value of the control variable;
• adjusting, while the motor is operating, the control variable to a second value;
• comparing a first instantaneous indicator of the current when the motor is operating at the first value of the control variable to a second instantaneous indicator of the current when the motor is operating at the second value of the control variable;
• and
• selecting a new value as the first value of the control variable in response to the comparing step.

A method for controlling a motor, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one control variable for controlling at least one figure of merit of the motor;
• operating the motor at a first set of values for the at least one control variable;
• adjusting, while the motor is operating, the first set of values of the at least one control variable to a second set of values of the at least one control variable;
• comparing a first set of indicators indicative of the at least one figure of merit of the motor operating at the first set of values of the at least one control variable to a second set of indicators indicative of the at least one figure of merit of the motor operating at the adjusted value of the at least one control variable;
• and
• selecting a new set of values as the first set of values of the at least one control variable in response to the comparing step.

A method for tuning a motor, comprising the steps of:

• determining if a steady state of the motor is achieved;
• if the steady state of the motor is achieved, fixing at least one input to the motor at a first value;
• selecting at least one phase of the motor to be tuned;
• varying the at least one input for the at least one selected phase to a second value;
• comparing the first value to the second value;
• and tuning the motor based on the comparison.

A system for controlling a switched-reluctance motor, comprising:

• a control arrangement which:
• selects a control variable for controlling a figure of merit of the motor,
• operates the motor at a first value of the control variable,
• adjusts the control variable to a second value,
• operates the motor at the second value of the control variable,
• compares a first indicator indicative of the figure of merit of the motor operating at the first value of the control variable to a second indicator indicative of the figure of merit of the motor operating at the second value of the control variable, and
• selects a new value as the first value of the control variable in response to the comparison of the first indicator first to the second indicator.

A method for controlling a motor, comprising:

• operating the motor at a first value of a control variable, the control variable for controlling a performance index of the motor;
• adjusting the control variable to a second value, wherein the second value is the sum of a step value and the first value;
• operating the motor at the second value of the control variable;
• comparing a first indicator indicative of the performance index of the motor operating at the first value of the control variable to a second indicator indicative of the performance index of the motor operating at the second value of the control variable;
• in response to comparing the first indicator to the second indicator, determining that the second value improves the performance index;
• and
• in response to determining that the second value improves the performance index, adjusting the control variable to a third value, wherein the third value is the sum of the step value and the second value.