Current sensorless model predictive torque control based on adaptive backstepping observer for PMSM drives

A novel adaptive backstepping observer is proposed and model predictive torque control (MPTC) strategy is considered for three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives without any current sensor. Generally, instantaneous stator currents are required for successful operation of MPTC. If the stator current sensors fail, the most common technique for reconstructing stator currents mainly focuses on using information from a single current sensor in the DC-link of an inverter. Nevertheless, the existence of immeasurable regions in the output voltage hexagon results in that the three-phase currents will not be reliably detected since one or more of the active state vectors are not applied long enough to insure accurate measurements. In addition, the technique may suffer from the very noisy of DC-link current feedback. To avoid these drawbacks, making use of the technique of adaptive backstepping, a novel observer is proposed. The designed observer can be capable of concurrent estimation of stator currents and resistance under the assumption that rotor speed and inverter output voltage as well as DC-link voltage are available for measurement. Stability and convergence of the observer are analytically verified based on Lyapunov stability theory. In order to reduce the torque & flux ripples and improve drives control performance, MPTC strategy is employed. The proposed algorithm is less complicated and its implement is relatively easy. It can ensure that the whole drives system achieves satisfactory torque & speed control and strong robustness. Extensive simulation validates the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme

Online loss minimization based direct torque and flux control of IPMSM drive

With the advent of high energy rare earth magnetic material such as, third generation neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB), permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is becoming more and more popular in high power industrial applications (e.g., high-speed railway) due to its advantageous features such as high energy density, stable parameters, high power factor, low noise and high efficiency as compared to the conventional ac motors. Over the years, vector control and direct torque and flux control (DTFC) techniques have been used for high performance motor drives. But, the DTFC is faster than that of conventional vector control as the DTFC scheme doesn't need any coordinate transformation, pulse width modulation (PWM) and current regulators. The DTFC utilizes hysteresis band comparators for both flux and torque controls. Most of the past researches on DTFC based motor drives mainly concentrated on the development of the inverter control algorithm with less torque ripple as it is the major drawback of DTFC. The torque reference value is obtained online based on motor speed error between actual and reference values through a speed controller. Traditionally, researchers chose a constant value of air-gap flux reference based on trial and error method which may not be acceptable for high performance drives as the air-gap flux changes with operating conditions and system disturbance. Efficient high performance drives require fast and accurate speed response to cope with disturbances and algorithm to minimize motor losses. However, if the reference air-gap flux is maintained constant it is not possible to control the motor losses. Therefore, this thesis presents a novel loss minimization based DTFC scheme for interior type PMSM drive so that the drive system can maintain both high efficiency and high dynamic performance. An online model based loss minimization algorithm (LMA) is developed to estimate the air-gap flux so that the motor operates at minimum loss condition while taking the general advantages of DTFC over conventional vector control. The performance the proposed LMA based DTFC for PMSM drive is tested in both simulation and real-time implementation at different operating conditions. The results verify the effectiveness of the proposed flux observer based DTFC scheme for PMSM drive

Disturbance/uncertainty estimation and attenuation techniques in PMSM drives–a survey

This paper gives a comprehensive overview on disturbance/uncertainty estimation and attenuation (DUEA) techniques in permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives. Various disturbances and uncertainties in PMSM and also other alternating current (AC) motor drives are first reviewed which shows they have different behaviors and appear in different control loops of the system. The existing DUEA and other relevant control methods in handling disturbances and uncertainties widely used in PMSM drives, and their latest developments are then discussed and summarized. It also provides in-depth analysis of the relationship between these advanced control methods in the context of PMSM systems. When dealing with uncertainties,it is shown that DUEA has a different but complementary mechanism to widely used robust control and adaptive control. The similarities and differences in disturbance attenuation of DUEA and other promising methods such as internal model control and output regulation theory have been analyzed in detail. The wide applications of these methods in different AC motor drives (in particular in PMSM drives) are categorized and summarized. Finally the paper ends with the discussion on future directions in this area

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

Dynamic Performance Analysis of a Five-Phase PMSM Drive Using Model Reference Adaptive System and Enhanced Sliding Mode Observer

This paper aims to evaluate the dynamic performance of a five-phase PMSM drive using two different observers: sliding mode (SMO) and model reference adaptive system (MRAS). The design of the vector control for the drive is firstly introduced in details to visualize the proper selection of speed and current controllers’ gains, then the construction of the two observers are presented. The stability check for the two observers are also presented and analyzed, and finally the evaluation results are presented to visualize the features of each sensorless technique and identify the advantages and shortages as well. The obtained results reveal that the de-signed SMO exhibits better performance and enhanced robustness compared with the MRAS under different operating conditions. This fact is approved through the obtained results considering a mismatch in the values of stator resistance and stator inductance as well. Large deviation in the values of estimated speed and rotor position are observed under MRAS, and this is also accompanied with high speed and torque oscillations

Critical Aspects of Electric Motor Drive Controllers and Mitigation of Torque Ripple - Review

Electric vehicles (EVs) are playing a vital role in sustainable transportation. It is estimated that by 2030, Battery EVs will become mainstream for passenger car transportation. Even though EVs are gaining interest in sustainable transportation, the future of EV power transmission is facing vital concerns and open research challenges. Considering the case of torque ripple mitigation and improved reliability control techniques in motors, many motor drive control algorithms fail to provide efficient control. To efficiently address this issue, control techniques such as Field Orientation Control (FOC), Direct Torque Control (DTC), Model Predictive Control (MPC), Sliding Mode Control (SMC), and Intelligent Control (IC) techniques are used in the motor drive control algorithms. This literature survey exclusively compares the various advanced control techniques for conventionally used EV motors such as Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDC), Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM), and Induction Motors (IM). Furthermore, this paper discusses the EV-motors history, types of EVmotors, EV-motor drives powertrain mathematical modelling, and design procedure of EV-motors. The hardware results have also been compared with different control techniques for BLDC and SRM hub motors. Future direction towards the design of EV by critical selection of motors and their control techniques to minimize the torque ripple and other research opportunities to enhance the performance of EVs are also presented.publishedVersio

PMSM Sensorless Speed Control Drive

Permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) are very popular in many industrial applications such as in mechatronics, automotive, energy storage flywheels, centrifugal compressors, vacuum pumps, and robotics. This paper proposes Sensorless control for a PMSM speed drive which is based on a closed loop control system using a proportional and integral (PI) controller that is designed to operate in flux weakening regions under a constant torque angle. This Sensorless element was adopted for best estimating the PMSM rotor position based on its performance characteristics eliminating the need for speed sensors which are usually required in such control applications. To achieve this goal, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control scheme was developed to work in conjunction with a field oriented motor control drive using Simulink.This innovative control system was simulated assuming realistic circuit components to maximize the accuracy of the proposed model. Finally, simulation results obtained under different operation conditions at below and above the rated speed of the motor were presented and discussed in this paper

Mathematical Approaches to Modeling, Optimally Designing, and Controlling Electric Machine

Optimal performance of the electric machine/drive system is mandatory to improve the energy consumption and reliability. To achieve this goal, mathematical models of the electric machine/drive system are necessary. Hence, this motivated the editors to instigate the Special Issue “Mathematical Approaches to Modeling, Optimally Designing, and Controlling Electric Machine”, aiming to collect novel publications that push the state-of-the art towards optimal performance for the electric machine/drive system. Seventeen papers have been published in this Special Issue. The published papers focus on several aspects of the electric machine/drive system with respect to the mathematical modelling. Novel optimization methods, control approaches, and comparative analysis for electric drive system based on various electric machines were discussed in the published papers

Fault tolerant model predictive control of three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors

A new fault tolerant model predictive control (FTMPC) strategy is proposed for three-phase magnetically isotropic permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with complete loss of one phase (LOP) or loss of one leg (LOL) of the inverter. The dynamic model of PMSM with LOP or LOL is derived in abc- System. The principle of FTMPC is investigated, its predictive model for remaining two stator phase currents is established after LOP or LOL occurs, and the flux estimator based on current model is employed in order to calculate the stator flux & its corresponding torque. Extra-leg extra-switch inverter is used as power unit. The PI controller is put to use for regulating rotor speed and generating reference torque. Dynamic responses of healthy MPC and unhealthy FTMPC for PMSM systems are given to compare their performance via simulation and some analysis is presented. The simulation results show that the proposed FTMPC strategy not only allows for continuous and disturbance-free operation of the unhealthy PMSM with LOP or LOL but also preserves satisfactory torque and speed control. And then the effectiveness of the proposed schemes in this paper is demonstrated