Motor control in aerospace, optimizing availability and acoustics

The objective of this research project was to investigate motor control methods applied to Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) for aerospace applications. In specific this research attempted to address two key issues that are critical in aerospace. Firstly the increase in system availability in case of a resolver failure by means of applying sensorless motor control methods. Secondly the reduction of acoustic noise generated from a motor drive. Reliability, availability and acoustics are key areas in a number of industries especially aerospace. With regards to the reliability and availability objective, a hybrid model/saliency based sensorless method was investigated that can take over motor control in case of a resolver failure. With regards to the objective on acoustics, the research attempted firstly to address the problem of acoustic noise from High Frequency Injection (HFI). A variant of the Pseudo Random High Frequency Injection (PRHFI) algorithm was thus developed aiming to reduce the perception of acoustic noise. While investigating HFI sensorless methods and observing their acoustic effects, the most novel contribution of this research was conceived. The concept of Active Noise Cancellation/Control (ANC) by means of High Frequency Injection (HFI) was thus created, implemented and presented in this thesis. The proposed availability and acoustic improvement algorithms were first simulated in Matlab/Modelsim and then tested on the Helicopter Electro-Mechanical Actuation System (HEMAS). The above hardware platform is a PMSM based drive used to control the swash-plate onboard a helicopter. The reliability enhancement sensorless observer was demonstrated successfully during testing and was shown to track the motor’s speed and angle. The acoustic suppression algorithms (Pseudo Random High Frequency Injection and High Frequency Injection Active Noise Cancellation) were also demonstrated successfully on the hardware platform by means of audio capturing using microphones and analysis within Matlab

Motor control in aerospace, optimizing availability and acoustics

The objective of this research project was to investigate motor control methods applied to Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) for aerospace applications. In specific this research attempted to address two key issues that are critical in aerospace. Firstly the increase in system availability in case of a resolver failure by means of applying sensorless motor control methods. Secondly the reduction of acoustic noise generated from a motor drive. Reliability, availability and acoustics are key areas in a number of industries especially aerospace. With regards to the reliability and availability objective, a hybrid model/saliency based sensorless method was investigated that can take over motor control in case of a resolver failure. With regards to the objective on acoustics, the research attempted firstly to address the problem of acoustic noise from High Frequency Injection (HFI). A variant of the Pseudo Random High Frequency Injection (PRHFI) algorithm was thus developed aiming to reduce the perception of acoustic noise. While investigating HFI sensorless methods and observing their acoustic effects, the most novel contribution of this research was conceived. The concept of Active Noise Cancellation/Control (ANC) by means of High Frequency Injection (HFI) was thus created, implemented and presented in this thesis. The proposed availability and acoustic improvement algorithms were first simulated in Matlab/Modelsim and then tested on the Helicopter Electro-Mechanical Actuation System (HEMAS). The above hardware platform is a PMSM based drive used to control the swash-plate onboard a helicopter. The reliability enhancement sensorless observer was demonstrated successfully during testing and was shown to track the motor’s speed and angle. The acoustic suppression algorithms (Pseudo Random High Frequency Injection and High Frequency Injection Active Noise Cancellation) were also demonstrated successfully on the hardware platform by means of audio capturing using microphones and analysis within Matlab

Active noise control by means of high frequency injection in electric motors

Machine acoustics is an important area of research impacting the quality and comfort of human life. With increased levels of electrification and the wider use of electric motors, the contribution of motor drives towards quieter acoustic systems becomes increasingly important. This paper presents a novel acoustic improvement method involving the use of acoustic waves generated from High Frequency Injection to perform Active Noise Control. Although High Frequency Injection has been used widely in the domain of sensorless motor control, its acoustic generation process has been so far perceived as a negative by-product. This paper presents the analysis and experimental results from the application of the proposed method to the Helicopter Electro-Mechanical Actuation System. Considering the extensive use of motor drives in a number of industries, the proposed practice of High Frequency Injection Active Noise Control can have a significant impact to future applications