Power Converter Topologies and Control Strategies for DC-Biased Vernier Reluctance Machines

This paper investigates the two latest proposed drive system topologies for dc-biased vernier reluctance machines (VRMs), aims to find out the preferable drive system configuration, and explains the performance discrepancy between the two configurations. Different from the regular ac machines, the armature winding current waveforms of dc-biased VRMs are sinusoidal with dc bias. To provide the dc flow path, the two drive system topologies are associated with the machine, namely, an open winding converter with single-layer concentrated winding and a dual three-phase converter with double-layer concentrated winding. The two configurations are investigated and compared in terms of machine operation principle, power converter configuration, voltage utilization, system cost, and system efficiency. The theoretical analyses and experimental results validate that the two drive systems have their respective advantages.