Design and initial testing of a high speed 45 kW switched reluctance drive for aerospace application

Bartolo, James Borg; Degano, Marco; Espina, Jorge; Gerada, C.

Abstract

This paper presents innovative research towards the development of a 45 kW high speed switched reluctance drive as an alternative starter-generator for future aero-engines. To perform such a function the machine had to be designed with a very wide constant power-speed range. During engine-start/motoring mode, a peak torque demand of 54 Nm at 8 krpm was met, whilst in generating mode, 19.2-32 krpm, the machine was designed to deliver a constant power of 45 kW. The key enabling feature of the design lies in the novel rotor structure developed so as to allow for such a wide speed range. The results presented, are those measured during the initial testing phase and validate the system design and performance in the low-speed region with the machine operated in starting-mode. The measured machine power density is at 9.8 kW/ltr, whilst the global system efficiency is at 82%.

Citation

Bartolo, J. B., Degano, M., Espina, J., & Gerada, C. (2017). Design and initial testing of a high speed 45 kW switched reluctance drive for aerospace application. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 64(2), 988-997. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2016.2618342

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 28, 2017
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
• Print ISSN: 0278-0046
• Electronic ISSN: 0278-0046
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 64
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 988-997
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2016.2618342
• Keywords: Electric Machines, High speed generators, Reluctance Generators
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/836909
• Publisher URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7592921/
• Additional Information: 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.