Magnetic interaction and winding polarities investigation in a double-rotor switched reluctance machine

Double-rotor switched reluctance machine (DRSRM) integrates two switched reluctance machines (SRMs) into one housing, providing a compact solution for hybrid power trains so that one DRSRM can replace two electric machines. This paper presents a new DRSRM design in which the stator flux barriers are removed and the flux lines in the interior and exterior machines are more evenly distributed. The effects of stator flux barriers are investigated, the loss mechanism in the DRSRM is analyzed, and finally, various winding configurations are compared. It is concluded that flux lines are more evenly distributed in the stator, reducing iron saturation and losses, while the interior and exterior machines can be independently controlled without sacrificing performance. Moreover, winding polarity in DRSRM is critical to reduce stator iron saturation and thereby losses.