Development of a switched reluctance motor-based electric compressor drive for HEVs/EVs applications

This paper discusses development of a 3.5kW switched reluctance motor (SRM)-based electric compressor, focusing primarily on the design aspects of the SRM and the integrated controller. SRM's operation capability at high speed and high temperature in addition to increased price of rare earth magnets makes the SRM a viable alternative to the permanent magnet motor for electrically driven automotive air conditioning compressors. A compact and energy efficient scroll compressor is designed and constructed. Two feasible SRM topologies are considered in terms of efficiency, torque ripple, and acoustic noises. Compact drive electronics are designed and employed to drive the SRM-based compressor. Static and dynamic performance is validated by simulation and experiment.