Unified Four-Quadrant Control of Dual-Port Solar-Assisted Switched Reluctance Drive for Electric Ferries With Power Flow Management

This article proposes a unified four-quadrant control (UFQC) strategy for a dual-port solar-assisted switched reluctance drive (SASRD) system specifically designed for electric ferries. This article presents a novel solution for selecting turn-on and turn-off angles effectively across various quadrants in SASRD. The integration of solar power as an auxiliary energy source in the propulsion system aims to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the ferry operation. The proposed control strategy ensures seamless and efficient power flow management (PFM) among solar panels, energy storage units, and the switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive. To achieve UFQC, a comprehensive control algorithm is developed with PFM enabling bidirectional power flow between the SRM drive and the energy ports. The control algorithm ensures optimal power allocation among different ports based on real-time measurements of solar power availability and load demand. This encompasses the management of fluctuating solar irradiance levels, dynamic load demands, and energy storage states. The effectiveness and performance of the UFQC for SASRD with PFM between the energy storage unit and the solar panels are evaluated through extensive MATLAB and Ansys simulations and experimental validation in the laboratory setup.