A Novel Control Strategy Considering Parameter Saturation in Synchronous Reluctance Machines

The objective of this article is to propose a new control strategy for synchronous reluctance machines (SyRM) considering the parameter saturation of the machine with the current. The SyRM lacks rotor magnets, in contrast to PM machines, and relies solely on the reluctance portion to produce torque. This characteristic provides SyRMs with the advantages of lower cost and greater reliability when compared to PM machines. The optimal control of the SyRM machine is, thus, strongly dependent on the controller's ability to adapt to the changing saturation with the current in the SyRM machine. The control strategy proposed in the article utilizes a reference current generation block that optimizes the reference current while taking into account the saturation that may occur in the machine at any given point during operation. The simulation and experimental results are presented for a 30-slot 4-pole SyRM machine.