Towards an intelligent reconfigurable BLDC motor controller: Commutation configuration and parameters detection

Abstract

One of the key components in an electric vehicle is brushless direct current (BLDC) motor controller. At present, it is difficult to match a self-made motor controller with several different BLDC motors available in the global market. One of the reasons is that the Hall sensors’ configuration is not well informed. Another reason is the motor parameter’s values used in the controller are not well suited with the real physical conditions of the motor. This study aims to design an intelligent reconfigurable BLDC motor controller. In this paper, a method for automatic commutation configuration and automatic parameter values detection is presented. The Hall sensors and motor phases configurations are identified. The BLDC motor parameter values are detected automatically using mathematical models. Those parameters include internal resistance, inductance, coefficient of back electromotive force (BEMF), torque coefficient, friction coefficient, and moment of inertia. Experimental results of the automatic commutation configuration and parameter values detection are presented. Those results were used to develop a current controller. Further experimental results indicated that the method could be implemented in a BLDC motor current controller.