Flux-current methods for SRM rotor position estimation

A family of nonintrusive methods is presented for estimating the shaft angle of a switched reluctance machine. Such methods can be utilized for commutation control of the SRM (switched reluctance machine) thereby eliminating the requirement for a shaft position sensor. These methods rely on the machine's inherent flux/current magnetic characteristics to infer rotor position from measurements of stator flux-linkage and current during normal phase excitation. Position estimation schemes are presented for SRMs in which both single and multiple simultaneous phases are excited. Also presented is a simulated sensing performance using measured SRM data processed according to the proposed position lumped-parameter estimation scheme.<>