Sensorless field oriented control of brushless permanent magnet synchronous motors

Abstract

Working with the subject of sensorless motor control requires an understanding of several topical areas; this report presents an understanding that was gained during this research work. The fundamentals of electric motors (particularly brushless motors) are developed from first principles and the basic models are discussed. The theory of sinusoidal synchronous motors is reviewed (phasor analysis of the single phase equivalent circuit). The concept of a complex space vector is introduced and developed using a working knowledge of the sinusoidal synchronous motor. This leads to the presentation of the space vector model of the permanent magnet synchronous motor, in both the stationary and rotor reference frames. An overview of the operation of three-phase voltage source inverters is given, followed by an explanation of space vector modulation and its relationship to regular sinusoidal pulse width modulation. Torque control of the permanent magnet synchronous machine is reviewed in several reference frames and then rotor-flux-field-oriented-control is explained. Finally, some schemes for sensorless operation are discussed.