Permanent Magnet Brushless AC Research Articles

Influence of Skew and Cross-Coupling on Flux-Weakening Performance of Permanent-Magnet Brushless AC Machines

A method is proposed for predicting the flux-weakening performance of permanent-magnet (PM) brushless ac machines accounting for skew and d-q axis cross-coupling. The method is based on a d-q-axis flux-linkage model, a hybrid 2-D finite-element (FE)-analytical method being used to predict the d- and q-axis inductances. However, it only requires 2-D FE analysis of the magnetic field distribution over a cross section of the machine. The developed method is used to predict the torque-speed characteristic of an interior PM brushless ac machine with one stator slot-pitch skew. This is compared with predictions from a direct FE analysis of the machine and validated by measurements.

Improved Rotor-Position Estimation by Signal Injection in Brushless AC Motors, Accounting for Cross-Coupling Magnetic Saturation

This paper presents an improved signal-injection-based sensorless-control method for permanent-magnet brushless AC (BLAC) motors, accounting for the influence of cross-coupling magnetic saturation between the d- and q -axes. The d- and q -axis incremental self-inductances, the incremental mutual inductance between the d-axis and q -axis, and the cross-coupling factor are determined by finite-element analysis. An experimental method is proposed for measuring the cross-coupling factor which can be used directly in the sensorless-control scheme. Both measurements and predictions show that a significant improvement in the accuracy of the rotor-position estimation can be achieved under both dynamic and steady-state operation compared with that which is obtained with the conventional signal-injection method.

Analysis of a Novel Multi-Tooth Flux-Switching PM Brushless AC Machine for High Torque Direct-Drive Applications

A three-phase, multi-tooth flux-switching permanent magnet brushless ac machine is analyzed, its electromagnetic performance, viz., the phase flux-linkage and back-EMF waveforms, the self- and mutual-inductances, the cogging torque, the electromagnetic torque, and the torque-current characteristic, are predicted by 2-D and 3-D finite-element analyses and validated experimentally. Compared with a conventional flux-switching machine, a multi-tooth machine requires a significantly smaller volume of magnet material, since only half the number of permanent magnets is required, and it exhibits a higher torque density at low excitation currents as well as a lower torque ripple. However, since it saturates more quickly as the current is increased due to the higher armature reaction, and at very high electric loadings its torque capability is lower than that of a conventional flux-switching machine.

A General Magnetic-Energy-Based Torque Estimator: Validation via a Permanent-Magnet Motor Drive

This paper describes the use of the current-flux-linkage (i-psi) diagram to validate the performance of a general magnetic-energy-based torque estimator. An early step in the torque estimation is the use of controller duty cycles to reconstruct the average phase-voltage waveform during each pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) switching period. Samples over the fundamental period are recorded for the estimation of the average torque. The fundamental period may not be an exact multiple of the sample time. For low speed, the reconstructed voltage requires additional compensation for inverter-device losses. Experimental validation of this reconstructed waveform with the actual PWM phase-voltage waveform is impossible due to the fact that one is PWM in nature and the other is the average value during the PWM period. A solution to this is to determine the phase flux-linkage using each waveform and then plot the resultant i-psi loops. The torque estimation is based on instantaneous measurements and can therefore be applied to any electrical machine. This paper includes test results for a three-phase interior permanent-magnet brushless AC motor operating with both sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal current waveforms.

Unbalanced Magnetic Forces in Permanent-Magnet Brushless Machines With Diametrically Asymmetric Phase Windings

A general analytical model, formulated in 2-D polar coordinates, is developed to predict the unbalanced magnetic force, which results in permanent-magnet brushless ac and dc machines having a diametrically asymmetric disposition of slots and phase windings. It is shown that the unbalanced magnetic force can be significant in machines having a fractional ratio of slot number to pole number, particularly when the electric loading is high. The developed model is validated by finite-element calculations on 9-slot/8-pole and 3-slot/2-pole machines. In addition, the unbalanced magnetic force has been measured on a prototype 3-slot/2-pole machine and shown to be in excellent agreement with predicted results.

Predictive current control with current-error correction for PM brushless AC drives

The performance of the conventional predictive current control (PCC) when applied to a permanent-magnet brushless ac (PM BLAC) drive is analyzed. A technique is proposed to reduce the current errors that arise due to the inaccuracies in the system parameters and the nonideal behavior of the inverter during a steady-state operation. In addition, a current-regulated delta modulator is employed to achieve a fast dynamic response during a transient operation. The performance of the proposed PCC, which is simple to implement on a low-cost fixed-point DSP, is demonstrated experimentally

Improved sensorless operation of interior PM BLAC motor drives with reduced-order EKF

It is a challenge to realise an EKF-based sensorless controller for an Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) brushless ac motor drive due to the influence of non-linearities and rotor saliency. An improved reduced-order EKF method is presented, reducing the rotor position estimation error of an IPM motor, as evident in [1] due to the neglect of saliency. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified experimentally.

Radial force density and vibration characteristics of modular permanent magnet brushless AC machine

The radial force density harmonics and vibrational characteristics of a three-phase modular permanent magnet brushless AC machine is investigated. It is shown that, owing to the presence of a large number of low- and high-order stator space harmonic magnetomotive forces, modular machines are more likely to exhibit higher low-frequency vibrations than conventional permanent magnet brushless machines. Experimental results support the analysis and its findings.

Application of full-order and simplified EKFs to sensorless PM brushless AC machines

This paper employs an extended Kalman filter (EKF) to estimate the rotor position and speed of a vector controlled surface-mounted permanent magnet (PM) brushless AC (BLAC) motor from measured terminal voltages and currents only. Both full-order and simplified EKFs are employed and their simulated performance capabilities are compared. Excellent agreement is achieved between estimated and commanded results. The EKF is also employed to identify the stator flux-linkage due to the PMs, which is influenced by temperature variation and magnetic saturation.

Real-time optimal torque control of fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless machines

The paper describes issues that are pertinent to control system hardware and software design for the real-time implementation of an optimal torque control strategy for fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless ac drives, and reports experimental results. The influence of the current control loop bandwidth and pulse width modulation on the torque ripple are investigated and quantified.

Design of a novel phase-decoupling permanent magnet brushless ac motor

This paper presents a phase-decoupling permanent magnet brushless ac motor which can offer better controllability, faster response, and smoother torque than its counterparts. The key is due to its different motor configuration and simple scalar control. The motor configuration is so unique that it inherently offers the features of phase decoupling, flux focusing, and flux shaping, hence achieving independent phase control, fast response, and smooth torque. The scalar control is fundamentally different from the complicated vector control. It can achieve direct torque control through independent control of the phase currents. The proposed motor is prototyped and experimentally verified.

Three-Phase Modular Permanent Magnet Brushless Machine for Torque Boosting on a Downsized ICE Vehicle

The paper describes a relatively new topology of 3-phase permanent magnet (PM) brushless machine, which offers a number of significant advantages over conventional PM brushless machines for automotive applications, such as electrical torque boosting at low engine speeds for vehicles equipped with downsized internal combustion engine (ICEs). The relative merits of feasible slot/pole number combinations for the proposed 3-phase modular PM brushless ac machine are discussed, and an analytical method for establishing the open-circuit and armature reaction magnetic field distributions when such a machine is equipped with a surface-mounted magnet rotor is presented. The results allow the prediction of the torque, the phase emf, and the self- and mutual winding inductances in closed forms, and provide a basis for comparative studies, design optimization and machine dynamic modeling. However, a more robust machine, in terms of improved containment of the magnets, results when the magnets are buried inside the rotor, which, since it introduces a reluctance torque, also serves to reduce the back-emf, the iron loss and the inverter voltage rating. The performance of a modular PM brushless machine equipped with an interior magnet rotor is demonstrated by measurements on a 22-pole/24-slot prototype torque boosting machine.

Improved Current-Regulated Delta Modulator for Reducing Switching Frequency and Low-Frequency Current Error in Permanent Magnet Brushless AC Drives

The conventional current-regulated delta modulator (CRDM) results in a high current ripple and a high switching frequency at low rotational speeds, and in low-frequency current harmonics, including a fundamental current error, at high rotational speeds. An improved current controller based on CRDM is proposed which introduces a zero-vector zone and a current error correction technique. It reduces the current ripple and switching frequency at low speeds, without the need to detect the back-emf, as well as the low-frequency error at high speeds. The performance of the modulator is verified by both simulation and measurements on a permanent magnet brushless ac drive.

Influence of DSP controller on performance of a permanent magnet brushless AC drive in flux-weakening mode

Influence of DSP controller on performance of a permanent magnet brushless AC drive in flux-weakening mode

Influence of DSP controller on performance of a permanent magnet brushless AC drive in flux-weakening mode

The flux-weakening performance of a permanent magnet brushless AC drive was investigated using both floating-point and fixed-point DSP controllers. A significant current oscillation was observed when the drive was operated at high-speed in the flux-weakening mode with the fixed-point DSP. The investigation showed that this was due to the on-line compensation of the winding resistance voltage drop and quantisation errors associated with the fixed-point architecture of the DSP. A simple look-up table scheme is proposed to eliminate the oscillation and to achieve extended flux-weakening capability.

Fuzzy logic speed control and current-harmonic reduction in permanent-magnet brushless AC drives

Fuzzy logic-based algorithms are widely employed in variable-speed drives. However, although they provide an excellent speed-control performance, they may result in significant current harmonics. These may be reduced by employing a non-linear distribution of fuzzy sets in the membership function of the output variable, albeit with some deterioration in the speed-control performance. A simple adaptive fuzzy logic control algorithm, in which the speed-error threshold may be either fixed or self-tuned, is proposed. Simulations and measurements on vector-controlled permanent-magnet brushless AC drives confirm that the proposed adaptive fuzzy logic control results in an excellent speed-control performance and robustness to parameter variations, while current harmonics are reduced. Its performance is compared with that which is achieved when conventional fuzzy logic and PI speed control are employed.

Simplified EKF based sensorless direct torque control of permanent magnet brushless AC drives

A simplified extended Kalman filter (EKF) based sensorless direct torque control technique for a permanent magnet brushless AC drive is proposed. Its performance is compared with that obtained with other sensorless methods for estimating the rotor speed and position from a stator flux-linkage. Since the EKF has an inherently adaptive filtering capability and does not introduce phase delay, the technique provides better speed estimates. In addition, the technique is easy to implement and requires minimal computation.

Optimal torque control of fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless machines

Describes a novel optimal torque control strategy for fault-tolerant permanent magnet brushless ac drives operating in both constant torque and constant power modes. The proposed control strategy enables ripple-free torque operation to be achieved while minimizing the copper loss under voltage and current constraints. The utility of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by computer simulations on a five-phase fault-tolerant drive system.

Optimal design of permanent magnet brushless AC machines for electric vehicle applications

Permanent magnet brushless ac machines are ideally suited for traction applications, since they are energy efficient and have a high specific torque and a high peak to continuous torque capability. Further, they can be field-weakened to facilitate constant power operation over an extended speed range without compromising the VA rating of the drive. However, they must be design optimised with due regard to their duty cycle, their thermal management, the volt-ampere constraint of the drive and any space envelope constraints. A design methodology which accommodates these aspects into the electromagnetic design synthesis process has been developed and employed to design a traction machine for a small urban vehicle.

Iron loss in permanent-magnet brushless AC machines under maximum torque per ampere and flux weakening control

The airgap flux density distribution, flux density loci in the stator core, and the associated iron loss in two topologies of brushless AC motor, having a surface-mounted magnet rotor and an interior-mounted magnet rotor, respectively, are investigated when operated under maximum torque per ampere control in the constant torque mode and maximum power control in the flux-weakening mode. It is shown that whilst the interior magnet topology is known to be eminently suitable for flux-weakening operation, due to its high demagnetization withstand capability, its iron loss can be significantly higher than for a surface-mounted magnet machine.