Low-speed sensorless control of induction Machine

Induction motor (IM) speed sensorless control, allowing operation at low and zero speed, optimizing torque response and efficiency, will be presented in this paper. The magnitude and the orientation angle of the rotor flux of the IM are determined by the output of the closed-loop rotor-flux observer based on the calculation of the extended electromotive force of the machine. The proposed rotor-flux-oriented control scheme is robust to parameter variations and external disturbances. Both observer and controller utilize the continuous sliding mode and Lyapunov theory. A smooth transition into the field-weakening region and the full utilization of the inverter current and voltage capability are thus possible. The produced torque is a continuous output variable of control. The performance of the proposed method is investigated and verified experimentally on a digital signal processor.     

A speed estimator for high performance sensorless control ofinduction motors in the field weakening region

The paper proposes a modified version of the model reference adaptive system (MRAS) based speed estimator, whose outputs of the reference and the adjustable model are rotor flux space vectors. The estimator is modified in such a way that the variation in the instantaneous level of the main flux saturation during operation in the field weakening is recognized and properly compensated at all times. The speed estimation scheme is equally applicable to both vector controlled and direct torque controlled induction machines, since it operates in the stationary reference frame and requires measurement of only stator voltages and currents. Verification of the proposed scheme is provided by simulation and by experimentation on an indirect feedforward rotor flux oriented induction machine for speed references of up to twice the base speed     

Online Identification of Stator Transient Inductance in Rotor-Flux-Oriented Induction Motor Drive

In a rotor-flux-oriented induction motor drive, stator transient inductance is varied with the change of operating conditions. If the stator transient inductance is not tuned, the field orientation cannot be obtained. As a result, q-axis rotor flux does not become zero, and the performance is deteriorated. This paper shows the problems caused by the detuning of stator transient inductance and proposes a simple online tuning scheme of stator transient inductance for an indirect rotor flux-oriented induction motor drive. Stator transient inductance is estimated only by stator voltage and stator current. The proposed method is verified by simulation and experimental results.     

Modular Three-Phase Permanent-Magnet Brushless Machines for In-Wheel Applications

This paper describes the merits of a recently developed form of a three-phase permanent-magnet (PM) brushless ac machine in which the concentrated coils of each stator phase are wound either on adjacent teeth or on alternate teeth. Such a machine is often referred to as modular and offers a number of significant advantages over conventional PM brushless machines. For example, it results in a smaller number of slots for a given number of poles, which is a distinct manufacturing advantage, and yields a fractional number of slots per pole, which is conducive to low cogging torque. It also enables a significant increase in the achievable machine inductance to facilitate constant power operation over a wide speed range by flux weakening. However, the torque in modular machines is developed by the interaction of a high-order stator space harmonic MMF with the PMs, since the fundamental stator MMF has fewer poles than the PM rotor. Hence, significant eddy currents may be induced in the rotor by the fundamental and low-order space harmonic MMFs. The eddy-current loss can, however, be reduced by segmenting the magnets. Given that modular machines combine the high specific power and efficiency of conventional PM brushless machines with a high machine inductance, to enable a wide speed range, constant power operation, their potential for low manufacturing cost, and the fact that they have inherently low cogging torque, they are eminently suitable for in-wheel traction applications.      

Time-optimal single-step velocity response control scheme forfield-oriented induction machines considering saturation level

A time-optimal single-step velocity response control scheme of field-oriented induction machines, taking magnetic saturation of rotor flux into account, is implemented based on the analytical solutions of the time-optimal control problem. High velocity response is achieved in spite of field-weakening for low acoustic noise or high-efficiency drives. The equation of the optimal control law is derived, and the look-up table is obtained. The optimal controls scheme is realized by simply adding the look-up table to the flux controller of the variable flux field-oriented control system. Simulation is carried out to verify feasibility of the proposed control algorithm. Problems of the overshoot of the rotor speed and the constraint on rate of change of acceleration or deceleration at the instant of switching from the time-optimal control to the conventional field-oriented control are discussed. The experimental results agree well with the simulation results, and show satisfactory dynamic and steady-state performance on both start-up and acceleration/deceleration     

A vector control scheme for EV induction motors with a series ironloss model

Electric vehicle (EV) motors are characterized by their low inductance and high current density, so that they run at high speed and produce a high starting torque. Due to the low inductance coil design, the current ripple caused by pulsewidth modulation (PWM) switching makes a significant amount of eddy-current loss and hysteresis loss, especially in high-speed operation. If one simply neglects the iron loss, the overall vector controller is detuned, resulting in an error in the torque control. The iron loss is modeled, in general, by a parallel resistor R_M to the magnetizing inductor L_M. The authors propose a series R-L model that accounts for the effects of the iron loss. A major advantage of the series model is that it does not increase the number of state variables in developing a vector control. In this paper, they derive a rotor-flux-oriented flux error, orientation angle error, and torque error caused by iron loss. Finally, they demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control method through computer simulation and experimental results     

Sensorless double-inverter-fed wound-rotor induction-Machine drive

The basic operation of a wound-rotor induction-motor drive fed by inverters on the stator as well as the rotor side is discussed. Different modes of operations are defined and explained based on power flow on both the sides of the machine. The sensorless motor control scheme consists of V/f-type direct frequency control on one side, with either vector control or direct torque and flux control on the other side. The machine operates up to twice the rated speed in either direction, with full flux and torque, thereby producing up to twice the rated power. Novel frequency profiles are proposed, which ensure that the frequency on either side never drops below a minimum value (set at 12 Hz in this work). Therefore, the estimation of flux can be simply and reliably carried out by integration of voltage, resulting in simple sensorless control. The drive works reliably at all speeds including zero speed and at all loads. Results from a 50-hp prototype drive are presented.     

Optimization of a synchronous reluctance machine for a sensorless drive with a wide field-weakening range

For more than one century, electrical machines have been utilized for electrical drives. Nowadays, in most applications the electrical machine is fed by an inverter. Three types of machines are available for such purposes: the asynchronous induction machine, the permanent magnet excited synchronous machine and the synchronous reluctance machine. Reluctance machines represent an alternative to the other types when utilized in high-performance drives with a wide speed range. Due to the rotor saliency, these machines have an inherent suitability for a position-sensorless control. The parameters of a 5 kW machine with a maximum speed of 8000 rpm are evaluated by means of nonlinear finite element analyses. With regard to an application in a high-performance drive with a wide field-weakening range and a position-sensorless control scheme, the characteristics are calculated for the conventional reluctance machine as well as the reluctance machine with additional permanent magnets in the rotor. The comparison of the characteristics of the conventional reluctance machine and the permanent magnet assisted reluctance machine clearly shows the improved performance in terms of electromagnetic torque and power factor due to the interior permanent magnets. Thereby, the suitability for the application in position-sensorless drives due to the high effective saliency is preserved.     

Fuzzy logic enhanced speed control of an indirect field-orientedinduction machine drive

Field orientation control (FOC) of induction machines has permitted fast transient response by decoupled torque and flux control. However, field orientation detuning caused by parameter variations is a major difficulty for indirect FOC methods. Traditional probability density function (PID) controllers have trouble meeting a wide range of speed tracking performance even when proper field orientation is achieved. PID controller performance is severely degraded when detuning occurs. This paper presents a fuzzy logic design approach that can meet the speed tracking requirements even when detuning occurs. Computer simulations and experimental results obtained via a general-purpose digital signal processor (DSP) system are presented     

Analysis and design of full-order flux observers for sensorless induction motors

This paper deals with the flux estimation for sensorless induction motor drives. The linearized model of the speed-adaptive full-order flux observer is applied to help choosing the observer gain and the speed-adaptation gains. It is shown that the linearized model reveals potential instability problems that are difficult to find by other means. An observer gain and a method to vary the speed-adaptation gains in the field-weakening region are proposed. Experimental results show stable operation in a very wide speed range.     

Rotor-Shape Optimization of Interior-Permanent-Magnet Motors to Reduce Harmonic Iron Losses

In this paper, we develop novel rotor designs of interior-permanent-magnet motors in order to reduce harmonic iron losses at high rotational speeds under field-weakening control. First, an optimization method, combined with an adaptive finite-element method, is applied to automatically determine the shapes of the magnets and rotor core. The optimized motor is manufactured to confirm the validity of the calculation. It is clarified that the iron loss of the optimized motor is reduced to nearly half of that of the conventional motor, without a significant decrease in maximum torque. Next, the contribution of each part of the rotor to the iron-loss reduction is analyzed by the experimental design method. Finally, several designs of the rotors are proposed from the viewpoints of manufacturing cost and performance.     

DTFC-SVM motion-sensorless control of a PM-assisted reluctance synchronous machine as starter-alternator for hybrid electric vehicles

Permanent magnet-assisted reluctance synchronous machine (PM-RSM) starter alternator systems are credited with good performance for wide speed range in hybrid electric vehicles. This paper proposes a motion-sensorless motor/generator control of PM-RSM from zero speed up to maximum speed, using direct torque and flux control with space vector modulation. A quasioptimal stator flux reference with a flux versus torque functional is proposed. A stator flux observer in wide speed range uses combined voltage-current models for low speeds, and only the voltage model for medium to high speeds, both in proportional-integral closed loop. A novel rotor speed and position observer with a fusion strategy employs signal injection and only one D-module vector filter in stator reference for low speed, combined with a speed observer from the stator flux vector estimation-for medium-high speed. The proposed system is introduced piece by piece and then implemented on a dSpace 1103 control board with a 350-A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor-pulse-width modulation converter connected to a 42-Vdc, 55-Ah battery, and a 140-Nm peak torque PM-RSM. Extensive experimental results from very low speed to high speed, regarding observers and drive responses, including artificial loading (motoring and generating), seem very encouraging for future starter-alternator systems.     

Stator resistance tuning in a stator-flux field-oriented driveusing an instantaneous hybrid flux estimator

A self-tuning control scheme for stator-flux field-oriented induction machine drives in electric vehicles operating over a wide speed range is discussed in this paper. The stator flux can be determined accurately from the terminal voltage when the machine is operating at high speed. However, at low speed, the stator resistance must be known to calculate the stator flux. The problem of calculating the stator flux accurately over the entire speed range is addressed. The rotor flux can be found from the machine speed and rotor time constant. The stator flux, at low speed, is then calculated directly from the rotor flux. By alternating between these two methods of determining the stator flux, a self-tuning operation is achieved, wherein the stator and rotor resistances are periodically updated. Since both methods of determining the stator flux are forced to track one another, a smooth transition between flux estimators is obtained. The torque and flux are then controlled in a deadbeat fashion. Good torque control over a wide speed range can therefore be obtained. With the proposed scheme, the advantages of direct torque control are obtained over the entire speed range with the addition of a speed sensor     

Fuzzy logic based on-line efficiency optimization control of anindirect vector-controlled induction motor drive

Improvement of adjustable speed drive system efficiency is important not only from the viewpoints of energy saving and cooling system operation, but also from the broad perspective of environmental pollution. The paper describes a fuzzy logic based on-line efficiency optimization control of a drive that uses an indirect vector controlled induction motor speed control system in the inner loop. At steady-state light-load condition, a fuzzy controller adaptively decrements the excitation current on the basis of measured input power such that, for a given load torque and speed, the drive settles down to the minimum input power, i.e., operates at maximum efficiency. The low-frequency pulsating torque due to decrementation of rotor flux is compensated in a feedforward manner. If the load torque or speed command changes, the efficiency search algorithm is abandoned and the rated flux is established to get the best transient response. The drive system with the proposed efficiency optimization controller has been simulated with lossy models of the converter and machine, and its performance has been thoroughly investigated. An experimental drive system with the proposed controller implemented on a TMS320C25 digital signal processor, has been tested in the laboratory to validate the theoretical development     

Sensorless control of induction Machines at zero and low frequency using zero sequence currents

This paper considers both flux and rotor position estimations for sensorless control of delta-connected cage induction machines (IMs) at low and zero frequency operation. The variation of leakage inductance due to either saturation or rotor slotting is tracked by measuring the derivative of the zero sequence current in response to the application of appropriate voltage test vectors. The method requires only a single extra sensor. It requires access to machine phase windings and is appropriate for integrated-type induction motor drives. Both a closed-slot and an open-slot machine is used to demonstrate rotor flux and rotor position tracking, respectively. Experimental results are presented showing sensorless torque control and sensorless speed and position control at low and zero frequencies.     

Sensorless speed control of nonsalient permanent-magnet synchronous motor using rotor-position-tracking PI controller

This paper presents a new velocity estimation strategy of a nonsalient permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive without a high-frequency signal injection or special pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) pattern. This approach is based on the d-axis current regulator output voltage of the drive system that has the information of rotor position error. Rotor velocity can be estimated through a rotor-position-tracking proportional-integral (PI) controller that controls the position error to zero. For zero and low-speed operation, the PI controller gains of rotor position tracking controller have a variable structure according to the estimated rotor velocity. In order to boost the bandwidth of the PI controller around zero speed, a loop recovery technique is applied to the control system. The proposed method only requires the flux linkage of the permanent magnet and is insensitive to parameter estimation error and variation. The designers can easily determine the possible operating range with a desired bandwidth and perform vector control even at low speeds. The experimental results show the satisfactory operation of the proposed sensorless algorithm under rated load conditions.     

Voltage control strategy for maximum torque operation of aninduction machine in the field-weakening region

In this paper, a novel field-weakening scheme for the induction machine is presented. The proposed algorithm, based on the voltage control strategy, ensures the maximum torque operation over the entire field-weakening region without using the machine parameters. Also, by introducing the direct field-oriented (DFO) control, which is insensitive to the variation of machine parameters in the field-weakening region, the drive system can obtain robustness to parameter variations. Moreover, the speed sensorless control can be achieved in the very-high-speed range, where the utilization of the speed sensor is limited. Experimental results for the laboratory induction motor drive system confirm the validity of the proposed control algorithm     

Sensorless field-oriented control for double-inverter-fed wound-rotor induction motor drive

A novel control technique for sensorless vector control operation of a double-inverter-fed wound-rotor induction motor is presented. Two current controllers control the stator-side currents based on a vector control algorithm. Another V/f-type flux and frequency controller controls the rotor-side frequency directly. A novel frequency command profile for the rotor-side controller is suggested to make this sensorless drive operation reliable and reduce dependence on motor parameters at any rotor speed. A complete inverter power flow analysis is presented to show that the drive can deliver full torque from 0- to 2-p.u. speed for either direction of rotation. Thus, double the rated power can be extracted from the induction motor without overloading it. The proposed algorithm allows the drive to start on-the-fly without any rotor transducer. Results from a prototype 50-hp drive are presented.     

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.     

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.