Solar Powered Switched Reluctance Motor Drive for Hybrid Electric Boat

Backwater Tourism is the prime attraction in Kerala. Diesel engine driven are conventionally employed for water transport. The fumes emitted into the water results in water pollution. Incorporation of renewable energy in an electric boat can promote sustainable tourism. Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) due to rugged construction as well as high performance can be used in electric boats. Solar energy available in plenty can act as the driving source for this motor. Battery bank can supplement the surplus power required depending on the load requirement. Five modes of operation based on the PV power available are presented. Simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink affirm the effectiveness of the SRM drive which is powered from PV panels and battery.