Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of this thesis is position sensorless control of a transverse-laminated reluctance synchronous machine. Rotor position information is required for high-performance closedloop control of the reluctance synchronous machine and is conventionally supplied by unreliable hardware position resolvers. In addition a FPGA-based rapid prototyping system is completed as part of the research term for control of the machine drive system. For the first time the unified active- ux (AF) method is investigated and implemented for position sensorless control of the transverse-laminated reluctance synchronous machine in this study. The method is based on the torque equation of the machine and is basically the same for any AC machine. The estimation scheme is implemented for closed-loop position sensorless control from low- to rated speed in the entire rated load range with simulation and measured results confirming its capabilities. A number of characteristics of the machine (including generator operation) have implications for implementation of the active- ux (AF) method and are therefore investigated. Another position estimation method investigated is the arbitrary injection (AI) scheme which is derived to be completely machine parameter independent. The method simply requires a current progression at each calculation step allowing use of a smaller injection voltage. This method is implemented again on the reluctance synchronous machine and is shown to be capable of position sensorless current and speed control of the drive from standstill to rated speed with simulation and measured results. However, when the machine is operating above low speeds it is shown that this technique is only capable of position sensorless control at low loads. To deliver position sensorless control in the entire rated speed and load range a new hybrid controller scheme is designed and implemented. The hybrid scheme is speed and load dependent with hysteresis regions for stability at specific working points. The active- ux (AF) method is implemented in the low to rated speed range at medium to rated loads while the arbitrary injection (AI) method is implemented elsewhere. Measured results show that the scheme is capable of position sensorless control in the entire rated speed and load range with some limitations on dynamics. Because of the limitations on dynamics of the hybrid scheme an assisted fundamental model position estimation scheme was investigated. Simulation results show that this controller requires further investigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus in hierdie tesis is die posisie-sensorlose beheer van 'n transvers-gelamineerde reluktansie sinchroonmasjien. Rotor posisie inligting word benodig vir geslote-lus beheer van die reluktansie sinchroonmasjien met ho e-werkverrigting, en word normaalweg deur onbetroubare hardeware sensors verskaf. As deel van die navorsings-termyn is 'n FPGAgebaseerde beheerstelsel vir die masjien stelsel voltooi. Die \aktiewe-vloed" posisie-afskattings metode is ondersoek en vir die eerste keer ge mplementeer vir posisie-sensorlose beheer van die transvers-gelamineerde reluktansie sinchroonmasjien. Die metode is dieselfde in konsep vir alle WS masjiene en word basseer op die vergelyking vir wringkrag van die masjien. Vollas geslote-lus posisie-sensorlose beheer van die masjien in die lae tot ho e spoedbereik is suksesvol ge mplementeer met simulasie en gemete resultate. Verkskeie inherente eienskappe van die masjien het implikasies vir gebruik van die \aktiewe-vloed" metode (insluitend generator werking) en is dus ondersoek. Die \arbitr^ere injeksie" metode wat afgelei is om onafhanklik van masjien parameters te wees is ook odersoek. Hierdie metode verlang slegs 'n stroom-afgeleide by elke tydstip en benodig dus 'n kleiner injeksie-spanning. Hierdie metode is weer ge mplementeer op die reluktansie sinchroon masjien met suksesvolle posisie-sensorlose beheer in die hele spoed bereik getoon in simulasie en praktiese resultate. Dit word egter getoon dat hierdie metode slegs onder lae-las toestande posisie sensorlose beheer bo lae-spoed kan bewerkstellig. Ten einde posisie-sensorlose beheer in die hele spoed en wringkrag bereik te verkry is 'n nuwe hibriede beheerskema ontwerp en ge mplementeer. Die skema is spoed en las afhanklik met histerese vir stabiliteit by 'n spesi eke werkpunt. Die \aktiewe-vloed" metode word gebruik bo lae spoed teen 'n minimum las terwyl die \arbitr^ere injeksie" andersins ge mplementeer word. Gemete resultate toon dat die skema posisie-sensorlose beheer van die masjien in die hele spoed en las bereik toelaat met sommige beperkings op dinamika. Met inagneming van die beperkings op die hibriede metode is 'n ondersteunde fundamentele model afskattingskema ondersoek. Simulasie resulate toon dat hierdie beheerder verdere ondersoek benodig.