Acoustic Noise Reduction in Switched Reluctance Motor Drives

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Electric motors play a critical role in the growing market for electrification, as they are the largest consumer of electrical energy. Today, around 46% of the global electricity demand is from electric motors. Furthermore, motor-related electrical energy consumption is likely to increase in the next few decades. Many factors are contributing to that including the higher penetration of electrified vehicles into the market, the acceleration of the use of renewable energy systems, the increasing sales of household appliances in jurisdictions with a growing middle class, and the growing need for cooling equipment in regions that will face significant temperature rise due to climate change. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for high-efficiency, high-performance, and low-cost electric motors for various applications in the transportation sector (e.g. propulsion motors), the industrial sector (e.g. pumps), the commercial sector (e.g. compressors), the residential sector (e.g. fans), and the energy generation (e.g. wind turbines). This also brings up the necessity for a sustainable supply chain. Rare earth magnets are heavily utilized in various motor applications since they can provide high torque density and high efficiency. However, it is a significant concern that the price volatility and supply chain issues of rare earth metals may limit the availability of permanent magnet motors. Besides, the extraction of rare earth metals has adverse effects on the environment. Switched Reluctance Motors (SRMs) are a promising alternative for a wide range of applications due to their low-cost, rugged construction, and wide constant-power speed range. SRMs do not have permanent magnets. A major challenge in switched reluctance motors is the high acoustic noise and vibration, which has impeded its use in noise-sensitive applications. The proposed research program is focused on developing novel design and control techniques for switched reluctance motor drives to reduce the acoustic noise. This will enable widespread use of SRM technology in a wide variety of applications and, hence, it will contribute more broadly to energy efficiency and sustainability. The results of the proposed research program will also benefit the society by providing more affordable motor drive systems, by reducing the use of scarce rare-earth metal resources, and by improving the talent pool of well-trained, highly skilled graduates and researchers with hands-on experience.