Commutation Angle Determination in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the commutation angle in permanently excited synchronous motors fail to reliably provide accurate results, especially when the motor is in motion or has low friction, leading to unstable commutation offset values.

Innovation Solution

A method that accounts for the initial speed of the rotor by using a controller structure to adjust the commutation angle, compensating for positional deviations based on both initial position and speed, ensuring accurate commutation angle determination even at non-zero initial speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a current vector is applied to align the rotor with field-oriented control, then the commutation angle can be determined, but the rotor performs large movements which are not always possible or desirable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommutation angle determination accuracyVSAvoid rotor movement magnitude
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a current vector that is intentionally excessive in magnitude to produce a measurable rotor deflection, then uses a controller to compensate and return the rotor to its original position. This partial action approach allows the rotor to move beyond its equilibrium position temporarily to enable accurate commutation angle measurement, while the compensation ensures the rotor returns to its intended operating position, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and rotor movement magnitude.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a controller that continuously monitors the rotor position and adjusts the current vector accordingly. The controller measures the actual rotor deflection caused by the applied current vector and uses this feedback information to calculate the correct commutation angle compensation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables accurate commutation angle determination while preventing excessive or unwanted rotor movements, directly addressing the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the rotor is allowed to move freely to align with the current vector, then the commutation angle becomes known, but the settling time becomes very long in low-friction systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommutation angle determination accuracyVSAvoidsettling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a current vector in advance to deliberately induce a controlled rotor deflection from its initial position. This preliminary action creates a known displacement that enables the determination of the commutation angle through measurement of the deflection magnitude and direction. By performing this action proactively rather than waiting for natural alignment, the method significantly reduces the settling time in low-friction systems while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the rotor position during the alignment process and uses feedback to determine when the rotor has reached its equilibrium position aligned with the current vector. This feedback mechanism allows for precise timing of the commutation angle measurement and enables the system to quickly establish the correct operating position without prolonged settling periods, even in low-friction environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If a PI controller is used to keep the rotor speed at zero, then small rotor movements are corrected, but the commutation offset does not level off in moving systems with low friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve rotor position stabilityVSAvoidcommutation angle reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a static control approach (maintaining zero speed) to a dynamic approach that accounts for the rotor's initial velocity and motion state. The method determines the commutation angle based on the rotor's actual movement characteristics rather than forcing it to remain stationary. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve reliable commutation angle measurements in moving systems with low friction, where maintaining zero speed is not feasible or effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameters from strictly maintaining zero speed to allowing controlled rotor movement and using the movement characteristics themselves for commutation angle determination. By changing from a speed-regulation parameter to a position-deflection parameter, the system can reliably determine the commutation angle even when the rotor is in motion or has low friction, resolving the contradiction between position stability and measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables reliable and accurate determination of the commutation angle in motors with low-friction bearings and moving systems, preventing long settling times and ensuring consistent results.

Implementation Method 1

the position of a rotor in the rotary motor or a slider in the linear motor (hereafter simply referred to as rotor) is often detected using a position encoder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3029826B1Method for determining a commutation angle
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 ETEL SA
  • EP3029826B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3029826B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3029826B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for determining a commutation angle in a permanent magnet synchronous motor is described, wherein the commutation angle indicates the position of a rotor within a magnetic period of the synchronous motor and is used for field-oriented current supply to the synchronous motor.The procedure comprises the steps of defining an arbitrary commutation angle (W) as the starting point of the procedure, imprinting a current vector (i) into the motor using the initially arbitrarily defined commutation angle (W), detecting a positional deviation (dP) of the rotor (R), changing the commutation angle (W) used for current application by means of a controller structure (PID) to counteract the detected positional deviation (dP), so that after a settling time the resulting commutation angle (W) corresponds to the actual commutation angle of the rotor (R), whereby an initial velocity (v0) of the rotor (R) is taken into account when determining the positional deviation (dP) of the rotor (R).