An Efficient Design Optimization Framework for Nonlinear Switched Reluctance Machines

A new computationally efficient paradigm for the design and analysis of switched reluctance machines is proposed. At the heart of the rapid analysis and design methodology is the reduced-order computational method based on a flux-tube model, which has been refined and extended. It is demonstrated how the improved model enables consistent and accurate analysis and design optimization. Instead of an analytical derivation, an automatic generation of cubic splines is introduced to model the magnetic flux. The flux-linkage functions obtained from the improved flux-tube method indicate that the method offers good accuracy compared with the finite-element-based analysis, but with significantly improved computational efficiency. The approach is applicable to translating and rotating switched reluctance machines of various topologies, and therefore, enables rapid design search and optimization of novel topologies.