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 ina generate mode comprises the steps of closing upper and lower switchescoupling a stator winding to a power bus during an increase in the inductanceof a stator winding to allow a flow of current from the power bus through thewinding, opening one of the upper and lower switches when the current reachesa first predetermined value, opening the closed of the upper and lowerswitches during a decrease in the inductance of a stator winding, and closingone of the upper and lower switches during a period of non-alignment of therotor and stator pole. The method further includes the step of closing boththe upper and lower switches if the monitored current falls below a secondpredetermined value. In this way, the current through the stator winding isnot allowed to decay to zero.