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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a reversible flux linkage model of the switched reluctance motor so that the rotor position can be computed analytically. Design/methodology/approach – The presented flux linkage model uses a Fermi function like equation with four coefficients to fit flux linkage characteristics. In this work, the coefficients are calculated from flux-current-angle data using numerical curve fitting with the least squares method. A rotor position model is then derived by inverting the flux linkage model. With a simple estimation scheme based on the rotor position model, the rotor position is estimated continuously. Simulation and experiments are then performed to verify the proposed method. Findings – The presented flux linkage model agrees well with flux linkage characteristics. The average absolute relative error (AARE) of the model varies between 0.3 per cent and 5.3 per cent. With the derived rotor position model, rotor position can be estimated conveniently for either steady or dynamic operations. Practical implications – The simulation and experimental results indicate that the presented model is an eligible candidate for applications such as rotor position estimation, performance simulation and other model based controls. Originality/value – Unlike previously reported methods, the presented flux linkage model is reversible so that a rotor position model can be derived and the rotor position can be computed analytically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]