AN OUTPUT OVERLOAD AND FAULT TOLERANT COMMUTATION METHOD FOR A SWITCHED RELUCTANCE GENERATOR AND AN ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME

摘要

A method of commutation of a switched reluctance machine to allow operation in a generate mode comprises the steps of closing upper and lower switches coupling a stator winding to a power bus during an increase in the inductance of a stator winding to allow a flow of current from the power bus through the winding, opening one of the upper and lower switches when the current reaches a first predetermined value, opening the closed of the upper and lower switches during a decrease in the inductance of a stator winding, and closing one of the upper and lower switches during a period of non-alignment of the rotor and stator pole. The method further includes the step of closing both the upper and lower switches if the monitored current falls below a second predetermined value. In this way, the current through the stator winding is not allowed to decay to zero.