Power Converter For a Linear Switched Reluctance Actuator With Hysteresis Current Controller

Power converter of a switched reluctance actuator can present different configurations, and several control strategies can also be adopted, each one of them resulting in different actuator skills. For optimal actuator behaviour, and depending on target application, an appropriated control strategy must be developed and applied. The proposed methodology, here presented, uses the knowledge of static and dynamic actuator characterization to conclude about proper converter operation. Based on that information, a versatile converter topology was developed. Because actuator traction force depends on phase current and position, a better performance is achieved if current profile can be changed along phase feeding process. Proposed power converter allows to control current profile using a hysteresis controller, taking as the reference signal one PWM signal, generated by a microprocessor that results from the adopted control strategy.