Control techniques of switched reluctance motors in electric vehicle applications: A review on torque ripple reduction strategies

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to acquire prominence in the transportation industry, improving the outcomes and efficiency of their propulsion systems is becoming increasingly critical. Switched Reluctance Motors (SRMs) have become a compelling option for EV applications due to their simplicity, magnet-free design, robustness, and cost-effectiveness, making them an attractive choice for the growing EV market. Despite all these features and compared to other electrical machines, SRMs suffer from some restrictions, such as torque ripple and audible noise generation, stemming from their markedly nonlinear characteristics, which affect their productivity and efficiency. Therefore, to address these problems, especially the torque ripple, it is crucial and challenging to enhance the performance of the SRM drive system. This paper proposed a comprehensive review of torque ripple minimization strategies of SRMs in EV applications. It covered a detailed overview and categorized and compared many strategies, including two general categories of torque ripple mitigation encompassing optimization design topologies and control strategy developments. Then, focused on control strategy improvements and divided them into torque and current control strategies, including the sub-sections. In addition, the research also provided an overview of SRM fundamental operations, converter topologies, and excitation angle approaches. Last, a comparison between each method in torque control and current control strategies was listed, including the adopted method, features, and drawbacks.