Evaluation of the Acoustic Noise Performance of a Switched Reluctance Motor Under Different Current Control Techniques

In recent years, switched reluctance motors have emerged as a promising option for various applications due to their low manufacturing cost, rare-earth-free construction, and mechanical robustness. However, their widespread adoption is often limited by high torque ripple and acoustic noise. To address these challenges, this paper presents a comparative study of the acoustic noise performance of an 18/12 switched reluctance motor under various current control techniques. This comparison offers valuable insight into the motor’s vibroacoustic characteristics, which is essential for optimizing SRM performance, particularly in applications where noise reduction is critical. Dynamic simulations of an SRM are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink, and multi-physics analyses are performed in ANSYS Workbench. The multi-physics modeling includes electromagnetic, modal, and harmonic response analyses for four current control techniques evaluated across different operating speeds under light-load conditions. The simulation results are validated experimentally using an actual motor mounted on a dynamometer setup. The corresponding acoustic signatures for each control technique are presented as 2D plots of equivalent radiated power from simulations and sound power level from experimental tests. In addition, experimental waterfall diagrams are provided for each control technique.