Modeling and optimal control of variable reluctance stepper motor

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a method of modeling the variable reluctance stepper motor using the time‐stepping finite element technique. The proposed model is used to obtain the optimal control law for the input circuit solving the linear‐quadratic problem. Design/methodology/approach A strongly coupled field‐circuit model of the stepper motor is presented. Also, the method of the optimal control that minimizes the power loss in the motor windings is proposed. Findings The proposed optimal control method can be applied to the electrical machines connected to the electronic converters. Calculated control signals may be used to obtain the optimal waveforms of the input voltages at each phase of the analyzed machine. Originality/value The paper examines the application of the presented control method to minimize the power loss in the stator windings of the four‐phased variable reluctance stepper motor.