Speed-sensorless control of SR motors based on GPI observers

• A speed-sensorless controller for the SR motor was designed.
• The proposed controller compensates the unknown load torque and friction terms.
• The stability properties of the proposed scheme were formally proven.
• An experimental comparison of the proposed scheme with two other well-known controller algorithms was carried out, under constant and variable loads, with a 12/8 SR motor.

This paper presents a robust speed-sensorless controller based on Generalized Proportional Integral (GPI) Observers for Switched Reluctance Motors. It compensates the unknown load torque while naturally estimates the output phase variables, making unnecessary to directly measure the angular velocity. An experimental comparison of the proposed controller with two other well-known similar schemes, carried out on a three phase 12/8 SR motor, shows the good performance of the proposed scheme.