High reliability SRM drive system for aerospace applications

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) have been extensively researched for mission critical high performance applications due to their high reliability, performance, fault-tolerance and high power densities. This paper discusses a high power density, high reliability SRM design for aerospace applications. This is in line with the more electric aircraft initiative that has been in place for many years and aims at utilizing electric power to drive subsystems in aerospace applications. These electric subsystems are intended to replace the historical hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical power transfer systems, leading to better performance and efficiencies. The machine design is verified using commercially available 2-D and 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) software. A dynamic simulator program to verify the operation of the machine using an asymmetric bridge converter is designed and developed, and results of the simulator are included.