Sensorless Control of Switched Reluctance Drives Using High Frequency Signal Injection

This thesis presents load invariant position estimation methods for Switched Reluctance Drives (SRDs) based on using high frequency signal injection. The methods combine "the high frequency carrier signals" for position estimation with the main excitation signals for torque production. The rotor position is estimated via a phase tracking observer using the spatial saliency image of the machine encoded in the measured phase currents as a result of variation of the phase inductances with respect to the rotor position. The proposed methods were implemented on two different test machines and the experimental results are presented to show the performance of the position estimation.