Power density improvement due to rotor flux screens in an SRM with a higher number of rotor poles than stator poles

This paper studies the performance of screened switched reluctance motors (SRMs) with a number of rotor poles higher than the number of stator poles. Flux (conducting) screens are electrically conducting, non-magnetic materials like aluminum or copper. These screens fill the interpolar rotor air gaps decreasing the unaligned inductance, and thereby increasing the output torque. In addition, flux screens result in a cylindrical rotor structure which minimizes windage losses especially at high speeds. The paper investigates the effect of the flux screens thickness and material on the SRM performance including output torque, power and phase current. A modified flux tube approach for estimating the unaligned inductance of screened SRM is proposed. Finite element analysis results for different screen cases confirm the effectiveness of conducting screens in improving the torque, hence power capability, of switched reluctance motors.