Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Machine Optimization using Reluctance Networks

The Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Machine (BDFRM) is being considered as a viable generator alternative to be used in wind turbines. However, a literature review shows that there is still a lack of researches to define a design procedure to make this machine commercial. This paper aims to address this issue by considering a new BDFRM design method using a reluctance network approach with focus on the machine electromagnetic structure optimization. The design example using the proposed methodology presents interesting results where the torque has increased significantly whereas the iron mass has been kept to a minimum.