ABSTRACT
A reluctance motor operates based on the phenomenon of magnetic reluctance across the airgap of the machine. The stator of the motor, being of salient-pole construction, is wound to produce a rotating magnetic field in the airgap. The rotor comprises salient ferromagnetic poles consisting of stampings of silicon steel, but carries no winding. Assuming one of the stator poles having been energised, with the nearest rotor pole being induced with opposite polarity, the condition corresponds to there being developed a torque in the rotor in the direction that would tend to reduce reluctance between the stator and the rotor. The switched reluctance motor is a form of “stepper” motor, characterised by the use of fewer poles. The characteristic feature of a hysteresis-reluctance motor is that the developed or shaft torque is the sum total of both: that due to hysteresis action and also due to reluctance action in the rotor.
