Short flux paths optimise the efficiency of a 5-phase switched reluctance drive

A new configuration of switched reluctance drive is proposed in which the windings of a five-phase motor are configured to encourage short flux paths within the motor. The five-phase prototype motor can be fed from a new power converter which uses only six switching devices in a shared switch configuration. Experimental results demonstrate that the five-phase prototype achieves higher efficiency than prior art switched reluctance and induction drives constructed in the same frame size, and with the benefit of the new electronic circuit it is very cost effective.