Experimental investigation of the generator mode for a brushless dc motor at an increased rotational speed

Abstract

This article deals with a commercially available direct drive brushless DC motor that was investigated in the generator mode at an increased speed above the rated one. During the conducted experiments the increase of the generator rotational speed was carried out due to a three-phase asynchronous motor with 5.5 kW rated power and 2920 rpm rated speed, which was further increased by a two-stage belt gearbox with a reduction ratio from 0.16 to 1.6. However, with an increase in the rotational speed, the magnetic losses also increase, which in turn increase the required value of the input mechanical power and lead to thermal overload of the brushless DC machine. An increase the generator rotational speed leads to an increase of the EMF value and, at the same value, of the stator current, leads to an increase the generated power. Throughout the experiment, the voltage was rectified using a diode bridge and bulk capacitor, after that it was connected to a load resistance. The presented calculations of the magnetic power losses for different electrical steel grades clearly demonstrate the nonlinear dependence between the magnetic field frequency and its magnitude. Experimental studies were carried out at different speeds of rotation of a brushless DC machine in a very wide range from 140 rpm to 5228 rpm, moreover, the values of the output power were obtained depending on the rotational speed. It is concluded, that in the generator mode of the brushless DC machine, it is necessary to take into account the feature of the operation at wind power plants, autonomous power supply such as hybrid power plants. In the first case, it is worth limiting the rotational speed from the driven mechanism, and in the second case, this mode of operation may be necessary for partial boosting of output power for short-term use.