Power electronic converters for switched reluctance drives

A number of power electronic converter circuits exist for switched reluctance machines which are generally applicable to most loads. A larger number of circuits exist which are suitable for particular niche applications, but which have the potential to be the most cost effective within that niche, Due to the variable methods of operation of these circuits and the rapid progress in this field, comparisons of these circuits have so far been limited. This paper attempts to bring together the sum total of converter topologies so far published for switched reluctance drives, A novel classification methodology is presented. The converters are compared using a straightforward total semiconductor VA per phase sum, and the relative cost of the drive system elements is considered.