Performance Analysis of DC-DC converters for Solar PV fed Switched Reluctance motor for Electric Vehicle Applications

Abstract

This paper describes the performance of a Solar PV-powered switched reluctance motor with low torque ripple in electric vehicle applications. The prominence of switched reluctance motors has become significant in the electric vehicle industry, because of its ineradicable characteristics like simple structure, absence of rotor windings, less maintenance and its self-starting capability. However, the limitation of SRM is its high torque ripple because of its nonlinear characteristics. The performance of a switched reluctance motor with various DC –DC converters is analysed in this work and the results are compared in terms of the speed of the motor and its torque ripple percentage. The switching time of the converter is controlled by the MPPT controller, which uses incremental conductance and the Integrator method. The converters presented in this work are the Boost converter and the Cuk converter. These two types of converters are designed in MATLAB software and their characteristics are analysed while supplying the switched reluctance motor. The suitability of the proposed system with the motor is analysed by simulation results. From the results, it is confirmed that the performance of the Solar PV fed Switched reluctance motor is improved in terms of speed and torque ripple by implementing this type of converter. Hence, it is suitable for electric vehicle applications, which require less torque ripple and mechanical vibrations.