FEA-based optimization of switches for reluctance motors

Abstract

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are considered one of the important machines used in industry sectors due to their simple structure, robustness, and high-speed capability. However, the performance is often limited by high torque ripple and acoustic noise due to the uneven magnetic flux distribution. This paper presents an optimization study for improving flux distribution by shape design modifications of the stator and rotor geometry using finite element analysis (FEA) combined with the whale optimization algorithm (WOA). More specifically, FEA is utilized to calculate the magnetic field behavior, torque characteristics, and core losses for different structural geometries of the proposed design, while WOA systematically searches for the optimum values of shape parameters. Thus, the simulation results show that the proposed approach significantly improves the uniformity of flux distribution, hence reducing torque ripple and improving the efficiency. The integration of FEA with the WOA provides a practical and effective way to achieve better SRM performance without further complication of control algorithms.