So far i have not seen any new designs for this machine, there is not much that can be done with the rotor. What i have seen is different converter topologies. Secondly, as you know the machines greatest disadvantage is the torque ripples hence noise as well, so great research work is and has been done in reducing the torque ripples. Research work in developing new control strategies to minimize torque ripples is great research area. SRM has found great application in the washing machines in particular Maytag, for electric hybrid vehicles buses and trucks are the attractive application. For Aeronautics they could be very attractive due to their ability to reach extremely high speeds, however the torque ripples draws them down.
There are a lot of work being done with regard to switched reluctance motors. Much of it being done in industry and the work won't be published for general consumption. Toyota has done quite a bit in prototyping SR motors for EV applications, trying to tackle the efficiency discrepancy between PM machines and SR machines.
One mistaken notion is that the noise from SR motors are due to torque ripples. While the motor has inherent torque ripples, the noise for the machine comes from the nature of its torque mechanism. the machine is excited by transient means, i.e. by switching DC on and off rather than by using smooth AC waves, this by its nature mean that there are massive amounts of energy that needs to be dissipated with every stroke, THIS is where the noise comes from, the bending of the stator yoke rather than because of the torque ripple.
High speed applications are pretty ideal for the SR technology, no magnets to glue on and the low inertia rotors are helpful.
There are research going on in axial flux PM machines, synchronous reluctance machines, and even induction machines.
yes @Peter,I understand & appreciate your views on switched reluctance but still it is not easily available in market to consumer....may be big OEMs are not considering it to replace from existing production setup of usual induction/other PM machines. Controller electronics is still felt complex and small PM's producing high power still favored in aerospace/other industries due to small size & weight requirement.
I would like to know which type of research is going on axial flux machines.I have seen some vendor in Pune, India(off course have a experienced person with doctorate in PM material) trying to make Axial flux based Generator for commercial sale(Probably in DG set).
You ask for information on research and then you complain that the SR is not readily available in the mass market? There is a reason why it is RESEARCH. Make up your mind. As for the axial flux machines, there are some odd machines out there, there is a pump motor available in Asia that is an axial flux PM machine. If you consider those motors mass market then I truly question your definition of mass market.
The market is wide open right now for different technologies because of the PM market. So it is that the SR and induction machines have been revived.
Yes I want info on research and deviated to discuss & know the Switched Reluctance technology-state of the art.A desire arrived as why these technologies though developed almost 20-30 years back still could not become commercial. I know that axial flux machine have a long way to even think of mass market. Definitely a RESEARCH involved in all this.Few people may be working on developing some new technologies in electrical machine and may be themselves or may not be themselves but their friends/promoters are here in this platform to share.
Permanent magnet motors are most advanced electo-mechanical power converters now. Especially seeking of low speed and high mass power density motor is proceed. One of very perspective construction is PM Vernier Motor.
Yes a lot of research related to PM magnets is happening and peoples are working in Hybrid motors.At high speed, rare earth free motors are possible with associated power electronics. Please mail me paper on PM Vernier motor at [email protected]. Just to know more please mail FEM model developed and your thoughts on high speed motors also.