Continuously motor-synchronized ride-through capability formatrix-converter adjustable-speed drives

The ride-through capability of adjustable-speed drives has become an important issue due to its direct impact on production and revenue losses. Moreover, different industrial surveys have shown that voltage sags are the main cause of converter tripping. Disturbances such as swells, distortion, and impulses were found far less common and did not cause any tripping nor production losses. Matrix-converter (MC) drives are also prone to voltage sags, furthermore the lack of the DC-link capacitor renders them somehow more vulnerable. This paper presents a ride-through strategy for MC adjustable-speed drives. The strategy is based on the reduced speed/load approach for conventional drives and is capable of enforcing constant volts/hertz operation regardless of the supply voltage conditions by first regulating the modulation index of the matrix converter, which counteracts the supply voltage drop, and second by reducing the speed reference if required. This reduction seeks to maintain the maximum torque capability of the drive and not to reduce the motor load as in conventional drives. Hence, the proposed strategy is suitable for both variable and constant torque loads. Moreover, the converter never loses synchronization with the motor, so it is capable of immediate acceleration to its former speed after the disturbance disappears. The proposed strategy was experimentally verified under typical industry disturbances using a TMS320C32 DSP based system. Particularly, three-phase and single-phase sags varying from 10% to 60% were tested. Results obtained showed the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for MC adjustable-speed drives     

New hybrid fuzzy controller for direct torque control induction motor drives

A new hybrid fuzzy controller for direct torque control (DTC) induction motor drives is presented in this paper. The newly developed hybrid fuzzy control law consists of proportional-integral (PI) control at steady state, PI-type fuzzy logic control at transient state, and a simple switching mechanism between steady and transient states, to achieve satisfied performance under steady and transient conditions. The features of the presented new hybrid fuzzy controller are highlighted by comparing the performance of various control approaches, including PI control, PI-type fuzzy logic control (FLC), proportional-derivative (PD) type FLC, and combination of PD-type FLC and I control, for DTC-based induction motor drives. The pros and cons of these controllers are demonstrated by intensive experimental results. It is shown that the presented induction motor drive is with fast tracking capability, less steady state error, and robust to load disturbance while not resorting to complicated control method or adaptive tuning mechanism. Experimental results derived from a test system are presented confirming the above-mentioned claims.     

A convex optimization framework for robust-feasible series elastic actuators

Kinematic and kinetic requirements for robotic actuators are subject to uncertainty in the motion of the load. Safety factors account for uncertainty in the design stage, but defining factors that translate to reliable systems without over-designing is a challenge. Bulky or heavy actuators resulting from overdesign are undesirable in wearable or mobile robots, which are prone to uncertainty in the load due to human–robot or robot–environment interaction. In this paper, we use robust optimization to account for uncertainty in the design of series elastic actuators. We formulate a robust-feasible convex optimization program to select the optimal compliance–elongation profile of the series spring that minimizes one or multiple of the following objectives: spring elongation, motor energy consumption, motor torque, or motor velocity. To preserve convexity when minimizing energy consumption, we lump the energy losses in the transmission as viscous friction losses, which is a viable approximation for series elastic actuators powered by direct or quasi-direct drives. Our formulation guarantees that the motor torque, winding temperature, and speed are feasible despite uncertainty in the load kinematics, kinetics, or manufacturing of the spring. The globally optimal spring could be linear or nonlinear. As simulation case studies, we design the optimal compliance–elongation profiles for multiple series springs for a robotic prosthetic ankle. The simulation case studies illustrate examples of our methodology, evaluate the performance of robust feasible designs against optimal solutions that neglect uncertainty, and provide insight into the selection of different objective functions. With this framework the designer specifies uncertainty directly in the optimization and over the specific kinematics, kinetics, or manufacturing parameters, aiming for reliable robots that reduce overdesign.     

Speed and Load Torque Observer Application in High-Speed Train Electric Drive

This paper presents an application of induction motor mechanical speed and load torque observers in high-speed train drives. The observers are applied for a 1.2-MW electric drive with an induction motor. The goal of using such observers is to utilize computed variables for diagnostic purposes of speed sensors and torque transmission system. The concept of diagnostic system is presented in this paper, and proper criteria are proposed. The suggested system is designed to work without a speed sensor in the case of existing sensor faults. Monitored motor load torque is used to limit the maximum motor torque in the case of existing problems in the gearbox. The results of simulation and experimental investigations for a 1.2-MW induction motor drive are presented.      

Efficiency Optimizing Control of Induction Motor Using Natural Variables

This paper presents a new approach of optimizing the efficiency of induction-motor drives through minimizing the copper and core losses. The induction-machine model, which accounts for the varying core-loss resistance and saturation dependent magnetizing inductance, uses natural and reference frame independent quantities as state variables. Utilization of the nonlinear geometric control methodology of input-output linearization with decoupling permits the implementation of the control in the stationary reference frame. This approach eliminates the need of synchronous reference transformation and flux alignment required in classical vector control schemes. The new efficiency optimizing formulation yields a reference rotor flux, which ensures a minimum loss and yields an improved efficiency of the drive system especially when driving part load. The proposed scheme and its advantages are demonstrated both by computer simulations and some experimental results for motor speed control     

Loss minimization control of permanent magnet synchronous motordrives

This paper aims to improve efficiency in permanent magnet synchronous (PM) motor drives. The controllable electrical loss which consists of the copper loss and the iron loss can be minimized by the optimal control of the armature current vector. The control algorithm of the current vector minimizing the electrical loss is proposed and the optimal current vector can be decided according to the operating speed and the load conditions. The proposed control algorithm is applied to the experimental PM motor drive system, in which one digital signal processor is employed to execute the control algorithms, and several drive tests are carried out. The operating characteristics controlled by the loss minimization control algorithm are examined in detail by computer simulations and experimental results     

Speed-sensorless vector control of an induction motor using neuralnetwork speed estimation

In this paper, a novel speed estimation method of an induction motor using neural networks (NNs) is presented. The NN speed estimator is trained online by using the error backpropagation algorithm, and the training starts simultaneously with the induction motor working. The estimated speed is then fed back in the speed control loop, and the speed-sensorless vector drive is realized. The proposed NN speed estimator has shown good performance in the transient and steady states, and also at either variable-speed operation or load variation. The validity and the usefulness of the proposed algorithm are thoroughly verified with experiments on fully digitalized 2.2 kW induction motor drive systems     

A simple approach to flux and speed observation in induction motordrives

The stator-flux orientation concept allows very good transient and steady-state performances in induction motor drives. However, this control strategy can be conveniently implemented only if the stator flux is correctly observed in the entire speed range. The authors have developed a simple flux observer that gives very satisfactory results, especially near zero speed, and the approach which has been followed also allows a good speed estimation. The observer has been both simulated and implemented on an experimental system that uses a single chip to control the whole drive system. The experimental results show excellent performances, despite the low computational load     

The algorithm of expanded current synchronous detection for active power filters considering three-phase unbalanced power system

A new algorithm for three-phase active power filters is proposed, which is expanded current synchronous detection (ECSD) theory. It can detect the active or the fundamental reactive currents in each phase symmetrically and equally, based on the decomposition of the fundamental reactive component and the harmonics under unbalanced power condition. Nonlinear load is composed of a 2-hp three-phase squirrel-cage-type induction motor and motor drives (inverter). To prove the validity of the proposed ECSD algorithm, some experiments were performed in steady states and transient states under 15% unbalanced power system. A stand-alone-type TMS320C31 digital signal processor (60 MHz) board is employed to calculate and to decompose the power and the current components of nonlinear load. The experimental results show that the active and the fundamental reactive components detected by the proposed theory were balanced and equal in each phase despite an unbalanced power source.     

Robust fuzzy neural network sliding mode control scheme for IPMSM drives

This article proposes a robust fuzzy neural network sliding mode control (FNNSMC) law for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drives. The proposed control strategy not only guarantees accurate and fast command speed tracking but also it ensures the robustness to system uncertainties and sudden speed and load changes. The proposed speed controller encompasses three control terms: a decoupling control term which compensates for nonlinear coupling factors using nominal parameters, a fuzzy neural network (FNN) control term which approximates the ideal control components and a sliding mode control (SMC) term which is proposed to compensate for the errors of that approximation. Next, an online FNN training methodology, which is developed using the Lyapunov stability theorem and the gradient descent method, is proposed to enhance the learning capability of the FNN. Moreover, the maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control is incorporated to maximise the torque generation in the constant torque region and increase the efficiency of the IPMSM drives. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed robust FNNSMC, simulations and experiments are performed by using MATLAB/Simulink platform and a TI TMS320F28335 DSP on a prototype IPMSM drive setup, respectively. Finally, the simulated and experimental results indicate that the proposed design scheme can achieve much better control performances (e.g. more rapid transient response and smaller steady-state error) when compared to the conventional SMC method, especially in the case that there exist system uncertainties.     

An MRAS-based sensorless high-performance induction motor drive with a predictive adaptive model

This paper presents a new model reference adaptive system (MRAS) speed observer for high-performance field-oriented control induction motor drives based on adaptive linear neural networks. It is an evolution and an improvement of an MRAS observer presented in the literature. This new MRAS speed observer uses the current model as an adaptive model discretized with the modified Euler integration method. A linear neural network has been then designed and trained online by means of an ordinary least-squares (OLS) algorithm, differently from that in the literature which employs a nonlinear backpropagation network (BPN) algorithm. Moreover, the neural adaptive model is employed here in prediction mode, and not in simulation mode, as is usually the case in the literature, with a consequent quicker convergence of the speed estimation, no need of filtering the estimated speed, higher bandwidth of the speed loop, lower estimation errors both in transient and steady-state operation, better behavior in zero-speed operation at no load, and stable behavior in field weakening. A theoretical analysis of some stability issues of the proposed observer has also been developed. The OLS MRAS observer has been verified in numerical simulation and experimentally, and in comparison with the BPN MRAS one presented in the literature.     

Experimental evaluation of ride-through capabilities for a matrixconverter under short power interruptions

The matrix converters, which are direct power electronic converters, are able to provide important benefits such as bidirectional power flow, sinusoidal input currents with adjustable displacement angle, and a great potential for size reduction. Still, two major disadvantages exist: a lower than unity voltage transfer ratio and high sensitivity to power grid disturbances. Many solutions to provide continuous operation of adjustable speed drives (ASDs) during power grid disturbances have been proposed, but they are all applied to DC-link ASD. In this paper, a new solution to provide limited ride-through operation is presented with a matrix converter using a scalar controlled induction motor for a duration of hundreds of milliseconds, without any hardware modification. During the ride-through operation, the drive is not able to develop torque or to control the motor flux. By recovering the necessary power to feed the control hardware of the matrix converter, it is able to keep the ASD operating. When normal grid conditions are reestablished, the matrix converter is able to accelerate the motor from nonzero speed and flux by initializing the modulator with the estimated frequency and the initial angle of the reference output voltage vector. The maximum duration of the ride-through operation depends on the initial motor flux, speed level, rotor time constant, load torque, and inertia. This method is verified on a laboratory setup with a matrix converter     

Self-tuning of tapped stator winding induction motor servo drivesusing the universal field-oriented controller

The universal field-oriented controller is used to control induction motor torque and airgap flux independently of each other. The decoupling equations of the universal field-oriented (UFO) controller are identical for both direct and indirect field orientation. In this paper, a UFO controller is described that can operate both in a direct or indirect field orientation mode, allowing transitions from one mode to another. The proposed field-oriented controller can be realized at minimal cost in AC servomotor drives requiring motion control or accurate speed control     

Sliding-mode observer and improved integrator with DC-offset compensation for flux estimation in sensorless-controlled induction motors

Two flux observers for wide speed range direct torque control (DTC) of sensorless induction-motor drives are presented and compared. The first one is a full-order sliding-mode observer with proportional plus integral (PI) compensation, without rotor speed adaptation. The second one is based on a zero phase-delay-improved integrator of the voltage model, which uses only a PI flux amplitude control with stator-flux reference magnitude in the correction loop. In both cases, an estimated dc offset is built up and memorized by the PI integral component and this totally compensates for all dc offsets and drifts originated in the acquisition channels. Two feasible solutions for on-line stator-resistance identification are proposed. Simulation and experimental results prove the accuracy, robustness, and high-dynamic performance of both observers when employed in sensorless DTC drives. The effectiveness of state estimation is confirmed by a steady state and transient sensorless operation at very low speed with rated load torque and step-speed reversal.     

Analysis of Performance of Adjustable-Speed Drives during Voltage Sags

The induction motors are the most common electric machines on industrial systems and with extended applications when adjustable speed drives (ASD) are used. The speed drives are based on power electronic devices and therefore they are highly sensitive to electric disturbances such as voltage sags, interruption, etc. Voltage sags has become one of most common power quality problems in the electrical systems, producing negative effects mainly in loads with power electronic technology. In this paper, the analysis of the effects produced by voltage sags in the ASD and the induction motor are presented. The electric system used for the analysis is conformed by an induction motor, an AC drive with V/Hz control scheme and a step down transformer connected in Yd. The voltage sags were produced by faults in the electric system with a time duration of 6 cycles (0.1 s). The whole electric system was modeled and simulated in Matlab/Simulink environment. The operating conditions of the induction motor was 80% of nominal speed and full load. The obtained results show high sensitivity of the drive, mainly to the dc-link voltage drop, resulting in a motor speed drop and overcurrents in the drive feeders at the ending sag. The adopted parameters used as a limit for the speed drive disruption were 5% of variation in the motor speed and 1.5 p.u. for the peak current. The most severe effects occur with sags type A and G due to three-phase and two-phase to ground faults respectively. The effect of these sags produced a dc-link voltage drop higher than 30% and therefore the drive disruption as a result of the operating limits exceeded. With voltage sags type C and D, caused by single-phase to ground and two-phase faults respectively, the effects produced in the drive and the motor are negligible.     

vector-controlled PWM current-source-inverter-fed induction motor drive with a new stator current control method

In this paper, the control of the pulsewidth-modulated current-source-inverter-fed induction motor drive is discussed. The vector control system of the induction motor is realized in a rotor-flux-oriented reference frame, where only the measured angular rotor speed and the dc-link current are needed for motor control. A new damping method for stator current oscillations is introduced. The method operates in an open-loop manner and is very suitable for microcontroller implementation, since the calculation power demand is low. Also, the stator current phase error caused by the load filter is compensated without measurement of any electrical variable. With the proposed control methods the motor current sensors can be totally eliminated since the stator current measurements are not needed either for protection in the current-source-inverter-fed drives. The proposed control methods are realized using a single-chip Motorola MC68HC916Y1 microcontroller. The experimental tests show excellent performance in both steady-state and transient conditions.     

The MAJIC-FET: A high speed power switch with low on-resistance

For high power switching applications, it is desirable to have a semiconductor device that exhibits a low on resistance during current conduction in order to minimize the steady state conduction losses, and high speed turn-off to minimize the switching losses. The ideal device must operation at high current densities during forward conduction, minimizing the chip size required for any given current handling capability and lowering costs. This article describes a new device structure which realizes these features. In this device the injection of minority carriers from the gate junction controls its admittance.     

Design of a low power voltage regulator for high dynamic range of load current

This paper presents a design technique of a low power, linear voltage regulator for high dynamic range of load current with good transient performances. It has been achieved by introducing a dynamic leakage path (pull down) at the driver stage of the voltage regulator. The pull down current through the dynamic leakage path is kept very small in steady condition for minimizing internal static power. While in high-to-low load current transition, the current through the dynamic leakage path is magnified for a small duration of time to achieve smaller settling time. The concept of the dynamic leakage path proves to be a more power efficient method than the static leakage method, especially in low standby current applications. The circuit is implemented in 0.18?µ CMOS technology and the voltage regulator generates 1.9?V from 3.3?V supply. The dynamic leakage path consumes additional 37?µA current, averaged over 7.2?µS time when the load current switches from high to low value, but consumes only 14?µA current in steady state.     

Limited ride-through capabilities for direct frequency converters

Many solutions to provide continuous operation of adjustable speed drives (ASDs) during power grid disturbances have been proposed, but they are all applied to DC-link ASD. In this paper a new solution to provide limited ride-through operation of a scalar controlled direct frequency converter (DFC) for a duration of hundreds of milliseconds, without any hardware modification, is presented. During the ride-through operation, the drive is not capable of developing torque or to control the motor flux. By recovering the necessary power to feed the control hardware, the DFC is able to keep the ASD operating. When normal grid conditions are re-established, the DFC is also able to accelerate the motor from nonzero speed and flux by initializing the modulator with the estimated frequency and initial voltage vector angle. The duration of the ride-through operation depends on the initial motor flux, speed level, rotor time constant, load torque and inertia