A comparison of switched reluctance rotor structures

A theoretical comparison of torque production is made between a conventional switched reluctance motor having conventionally laminated salient rotor poles, and a novel structure that uses a cylindrical anisotropic rotor comprised of axially laminated layers of magnetic and nonmagnetic materials. By choosing identical conditions and dimensions in all respects other than the differing rotors and the consequential changes to the stators, and by including the influence of the available space for the windings, the torque production capabilities have been linked specifically to the rotor differences. The results, which are for identical maximum flux density and copper losses, show the salient rotor SR motor to be 20 percent better based on rotor volume and almost 100 percent better on stator plus endwinding volume.<>