IN-WHEEL HUB SRM SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS

Abstract

Is it feasible to replace the conventional gasoline engine and subsequent drive sys- tem in a motorcycle with an electric switched reluctance motor (SRM) by placing the SRM inside the rear wheel, thereby removing the need for things such as a clutch, chain, transmission, gears and sprockets?

The goal of this thesis is to study the theoretical aspect of prototyping and analyz- ing an in-wheel electric hub motor to replace the standard gasoline engine traditionally found on motorcycles.

With the recent push for clean energy, electric vehicles are becoming more com- mon. All currently produced electric motorcycles use conventional, prefabricated electric motors connected to the traditional sprocket and chain design. This greatly restricts the efficiency and range of these motorcycles. My design stands apart by turning the rear wheel into a SRM which uses electromagnets around a non-magnetic core to convert electrical energy into mechanical force driving the rear wheel. To my knowledge, there is currently no motorcycle designed with an in-wheel hub SRM.

A three-phase SRM and a five-phase SRM will be simulated and analyzed using MATLAB with Simulink. Factors such as friction, weight, power, etc. will be taken into account in order to create a realistic simulation as if it were inside the rear wheel of a motorcycle. Since time and finances will not allow for a full scale build, a scaled model three-phase SRM will be attempted for demonstration purposes.