Impact of current harmonic injection on performance of multi-phase synchronous reluctance machines

This paper combines the use of multi-phase configurations and current harmonic injection methods to achieve significantly improved performance for doubly salient synchronous reluctance machines (DS-SRMs). In order to understand the torque production mechanism of multi-phase DS-SRMs with current harmonic injection, some general analytical torque models have been developed. The models are based on Fourier Series analysis of self- and mutual-inductances. It has been established that with current harmonic injection, the torque ripple of both 5-phase and 6-phase DS-SRMs can be significantly reduced and the average torque can be enhanced. It contrast, harmonic injection always has a detrimental impact on 4-phase machines. The investigations of losses and dynamic performance with current harmonic injection for multi-phase machine have also been carried out and demonstrated that the proposed method can improve the efficiency in constant torque region and maintain comparable performance to fundamental current supply in the flux weakening region. Experimental validation based on single layer, 6-phase, DS-SRM has been performed.