Novel Switched Reluctance Motor with Segment Core Embedded in Aluminum Rotor Block

A novel segment type switched reluctance motor (SRM) is proposed, in which the segment core is embedded in aluminum (conductive metal) rotor block in order to increase the mechanical strength and easy manufacturing as well as to improve the performance characteristics and reduce the vibration and acoustic noise. The effect of design parameters on the average torque is investigated using the finite element method. Comparison with conventional VR type SRMs and segment type SRMs without conductive metal construction rotor show the proposed segment type SRM has advantages in the torque performances and the vibration and noise characteristics. The performance is also investigated by experiment.