State-of-art on permanent magnet brushless DC motor drives

Permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) motors are the latest choice of researchers due to their high efficiency, silent operation, compact size, high reliability and low maintenance requirements. These motors are preferred for numerous applications; however, most of them require sensorless control of these motors. The operation of PMBLDC motors requires rotor-position sensing for controlling the winding currents. The sensorless control would need estimation of rotor position from the voltage and current signals, which are easy to be sensed. This paper presents a state of art on PMBLDC motor drives with emphasis on sensorless control of these motors

Direct torque control of permanent magnet synchronous motors with non-sinusoidal back-EMF

This work presents the direct torque control (DTC) techniques, implemented in four- and six-switch inverter, for brushless dc (BLDC) motors with non-sinusoidal back- EMF using two and three-phase conduction modes. First of all, the classical direct torque control of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with sinusoidal back-EMF is discussed in detail. Secondly, the proposed two-phase conduction mode for DTC of BLDC motors is introduced in the constant torque region. In this control scheme, only two phases conduct at any instant of time using a six-switch inverter. By properly selecting the inverter voltage space vectors of the two-phase conduction mode from a simple look-up table the desired quasi-square wave current is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to achieve DTC of a BLDC motor drive with faster torque response while the stator flux linkage amplitude is deliberately kept almost constant by ignoring the flux control in the constant torque region. Third, the avarege current controlled boost power factor correction (PFC) method is applied to the previously discussed proposed DTC of BLDC motor drive in the constant torque region. The test results verify that the proposed PFC for DTC of BLDC motor drive improves the power factor from 0.77 to about 0.9997 irrespective of the load. Fourth, the DTC technique for BLDC motor using four-switch inverter in the constant torque region is studied. For effective torque control in two phase conduction mode, a novel switching pattern incorporating the voltage vector look-up table is designed and implemented for four-switch inverter to produce the desired torque characteristics. As a result, it is possible to achieve two-phase conduction DTC of a BLDC motor drive using four-switch inverter with faster torque response due to the fact that the voltage space vectors are directly controlled.. Finally, the position sensorless direct torque and indirect flux control (DTIFC) of BLDC motor with non-sinusoidal back-EMF has been extensively investigated using three-phase conduction scheme with six-switch inverter. In this work, a novel and simple approach to achieve a low-frequency torque ripple-free direct torque control with maximum efficiency based on dq reference frame similar to permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives is presented

Sensorless drives for aerospace applications

This Engineering Doctorate thesis investigates the different implementations and theories allowing drives to control motors using sensorless techniques that could be used in an aerospace environment. A range of converter topologies and their control will be examined to evaluate the possible techniques that will allow a robust and reliable drive algorithm to be implemented. The focus of the research is around sensorless drives for fuel pump applications, with the potential to replace an existing analogue implementation that is embedded in a fuel pump, contained within the fuel tank. The motor choice (Brushless DC) reflects the requirement for endurance and tight speed control over the life of the aircraft. The study of currently understood sensorless control will allow a critical analysis over the best and most robust sensorless control technique for a controller of this nature, where reliability is a fundamental requirement.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceEaton AerospaceTitchfieldGBUnited Kingdo

Comparison of two position and speed estimation techniques used in PMSM sensorless vector control

International audienceThe paper describes the comparison between two different high-performance techniques used for the sensorless estimation of the motor shaft position in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Sensorless Drives. Rotor position and speed are estimated from measured terminal voltages and currents, and are used as feedback in a sensorless vector control scheme, achieving almost the same high-performance of a sensored drive. The paper point out the differences, by using experimental implementation, between an open-loop flux estimator based on the electrical model of the machine, and a reduced fluxobserver

Torque Controlled Drive for Permanent Magnet Direct Current Brushless Motors

This thesis describes the design and implementation of a simple variable speed drive (VSD) based on a brushless direct current (BLDC) machine and discrete logic circuits. A practical VSD was built, capable of operating a BLDC machine in two quadrants, motoring and regenerative braking. The intended applications are electric scooters and electric bicycles, where the recovered energy from braking extends the range of the vehicle. A conceptual four quadrant VSD, suitable for three and four wheelers requiring reverse operation, was designed and tested in simulation. Simplicity was emphasized in this design to help achieve a robust, easy to analyse system. The versatility of multi-function gate integrated circuits (ICs) made them ideal for implementing the commutation logic and keeping the system simple. The BLDC machine has sensors with a resolution of 60 ed to determine rotor position. An electronic commutator or phase switcher module interprets the position signals and produces a switching pattern. This effectively transforms the BLDC machine into a direct current (DC) brushed machine. A synchronous step down converter controls the BLDC machine current with a tolerance band scheme. This module treats the BLDC machine as if it was a DC machine. The leakage inductance of the electric machine is used as the inductive filter element. The unipolar switching scheme used ensures that current flows out of the battery only for motoring operation and into the battery only during regeneration. The current and torque are directly related in a DC brushed machine. The action of an electronic commutator or phase switcher creates that same relationship between torque and current in a BLDC machine. Torque control is achieved in the BLDC machine using a single channel current controller. The phase switcher current is monitored and used to control the duty ratio of the synchronous converter switches. Successful operation of the practical VSD was achieved in two quadrants: forwards motoring and forwards regenerating. The maximum tested power outputs were 236W in motoring mode and 158W in regenerating mode. The output torque could be smoothly controlled from a positive to a negative value. iv v Simulation of the conceptual four quadrant design was successful in all the motoring, generating and active braking zones. The required manipulation of logic signals to achieve this type of operation was done automatically while the machine was running. The resulting output torque is smoothly controlled in all of the operating zones. Commutation at certain speeds and torques are handled better by some topologies than others. Some current sensing strategies adversely affect instantaneous phase currents under certain conditions. The final design chose the method where phase currents experience no overshoot, minimizing component stress. The battery, or energy storage system, used in verifying the operation of the VSD in the practical electric bicycle was found to be the most limiting component. In regenerating mode, the low charge acceptance rate of the battery reduced the maximum retarding torque and energy recovery rate

Integrated Motor System Estimation Using Efficiency Maps

A motor combined with an inverter based variable speed drive and an end load device forms a motor system that can operate over a wide area of different speed and load combinations. The majority of the motor systems used in the world are low power systems that have poor motor and system efficiency, resulting in higher energy consumption. Because of cost considerations, such systems rarely include the sensors required for more efficient feedback control schemes. In cases where physical sensors are used, those motor systems experience higher cost and reduced reliability. Using models of the motor and/or load, it is possible for a variable speed drive to estimate some motor system quantities. Position sensorless control is the most common form of sensorless operation, but it is also possible to estimate motor torque, pump pressure and pump flow. Sensorless estimates can replace physical sensors, increasing reliability and reducing both the size and cost of the motor system. For efficient and effective sensorless motor operation, accurate knowledge of a motor system’s operation over a wide area must be understood in terms of the real time system state and the efficiency of the system components. This research considers sensorless state estimation of a low-cost motor system integrated with an end application/load. A focus is given to expanding the operating area of sensorless techniques, and to better understand a motor system’s performance over a wide operating area. Motor systems using permanent magnet (PM) machines were studied because of their high efficiency, high power density, and ability to operate using a range of position sensorless control schemes. An improved method of position sensorless control for brushless DC motors was developed, enabling wider speed operation compared to methods of similar complexity. The method was implemented on a low-cost motor drive, and the performance was verified experimentally. To better understand the performance of an integrated motor system over a large operating area, a method of autonomous testing was developed. The flexible hardware and software-based test system was adaptable to different motor system applications and collected large volumes of temperature-controlled efficiency data, allowing for a motor system to be characterised in greater detail over its operating area. Using large sets of experimental data, a new method for general motor state sensorless estimation was developed. Estimator models were developed for speed, torque, DC power, AC power, mechanical power, inverter efficiency, motor efficiency and system efficiency. The estimators were implemented in the firmware of a low-cost inverter, and the performance over the operating area of the motor system was experimentally verified. The method of sensorless state estimation was then extended to a pump system, demonstrating the method’s ability to model the nonlinear relationship between motor and pump quantities. Estimator models were developed for pump head pressure, flow, hydraulic power, efficiency and total volume pumped. Estimator performance over the system’s operating area was experimentally verified, with temperature changes and dynamic performance also being considered. The methods discussed are not limited to pump systems, but are applicable to fans, compressors, vehicles and other motor systems with multiple components, sensors, and room for efficiency improvements.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 202

Modelling, simulation and analysis of low-cost direct torque control of PMSM using hall-effect sensors

This thesis focuses on the development of a novel Direct Torque Control (DTC) scheme for permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motors (surface and interior types) in the constant torque region with the help of cost-effective hall-effect sensors. This method requires no DC-link sensing, which is a mandatory matter in the conventional DTC drives, therefore it reduces the cost of a conventional DTC of a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor and also removes common problems including; resistance change effect, low speed and integration drift. Conventional DTC drives require at least one DC-link voltage sensor (or two on the motor terminals) and two current sensors because of the necessary estimation of position, speed, torque, and stator flux in the stationary reference frame. Unlike the conventional DTC drive, the proposed method uses the rotor reference frame because the rotor position is provided by the three hall-effect sensors and does not require expensive voltage sensors. Moreover, the proposed algorithm takes the acceleration and deceleration of the motor and torque disturbances into account to improve the speed and torque responses. The basic theory of operation for the proposed topology is presented. A mathematical model for the proposed DTC of the PMSM topology is developed. A simulation program written in MATLAB/SIMULINKî is used to verify the basic operation (performance) of the proposed topology. The mathematical model is capable of simulating the steady-state, as well as dynamic response even under heavy load conditions (e.g. transient load torque at ramp up). It is believed that the proposed system offers a reliable and low-cost solution for the emerging market of DTC for PMSM drives. Finally the proposed drive, considering the constant torque region operation, is applied to the agitation part of a laundry washing machine (operating in constant torque region) for speed performance comparison with the current low-cost agitation cycle speed control technique used by washing machine companies around the world

Advances in Rotating Electric Machines

It is difficult to imagine a modern society without rotating electric machines. Their use has been increasing not only in the traditional fields of application but also in more contemporary fields, including renewable energy conversion systems, electric aircraft, aerospace, electric vehicles, unmanned propulsion systems, robotics, etc. This has contributed to advances in the materials, design methodologies, modeling tools, and manufacturing processes of current electric machines, which are characterized by high compactness, low weight, high power density, high torque density, and high reliability. On the other hand, the growing use of electric machines and drives in more critical applications has pushed forward the research in the area of condition monitoring and fault tolerance, leading to the development of more reliable diagnostic techniques and more fault-tolerant machines. This book presents and disseminates the most recent advances related to the theory, design, modeling, application, control, and condition monitoring of all types of rotating electric machines