Many different converter topologies have been developed with a view to use the minimum number of switches in order to reduce construction costs. Among this research, the four-switch converter topology with a novel PWM control technique based on the current controlled PWM method is thought to be a good solution. In this paper, a two dimensional time-stepped voltage source finite-element method (FEM) is used to analyze the characteristics of a Flux-Reversal Machine (FRM) with a 4-switch converter. To validate the proposed computational method, a digital signal processor (DSP) installed controller and prototype FRM are built and experiments performed.

In this paper, the 6-switch inverter for the Flux-Reversal Motor (FRM) has been presented and compared to the 4-switch inverter for the FRM, which is more popular in cost effective applications. To analyze the FRM, we adopted the two-dimensional time-stepped voltage source finite element method (FEM) that uses the actual pulse width modulation (PWM) voltage waveforms as the input data. As the FRM characteristic analysis of actual pwm voltage input, the torque ripples and iron losses (eddy current and hysteresis loss) of the FRM can be precisely calculated. With the simulated and experimental results, the performance and limitations of the 4-switch FRM which is the cost effective drive compared to the 6-switch FRM drive are provided in more detail.