MTPA Control System With Saturation Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MTPA control approaches for induction motor drives are not optimal at nominal speed or when motor voltage is near nominal value due to magnetizing inductance saturation, leading to suboptimal current operation.

Innovation Solution

A control system that incorporates a fine adjustment module to calculate a compensation ratio value based on the perturb and observe principle, adjusting the MTPA control to maintain optimal current operation by minimizing motor current or power magnitude, even at saturated conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If MTPA control is implemented in scalar mode with constant V/f control, then motor efficiency is enhanced through current angle control, but the control performance deteriorates at nominal speed due to magnetizing inductance saturation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control system adaptive to varying operating conditions. The microprocessor dynamically adjusts control parameters based on detected motor currents and operating state, transitioning between different control strategies (V/f control at low speeds, MTPA at medium speeds, and saturation-compensated control at nominal speeds) to maintain optimal performance across the entire speed range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes control parameters based on operating conditions. The microprocessor detects motor currents and determines when magnetizing inductance saturation occurs, then adjusts the control strategy by modifying current references and voltage commands to compensate for saturation effects, thereby maintaining control performance across different operating points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If the control system operates at nominal speed with magnetizing inductance saturation, then voltage utilization is maximized, but current operation becomes suboptimal leading to increased losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage utilizationVSAvoidcurrent losses
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously detecting motor currents with current sensors and using this information to adjust control decisions. The microprocessor processes detected currents to determine operating state and saturation conditions, then modifies control commands accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that reduces current losses while maintaining voltage utilization at nominal speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting saturation conditions and correcting its own control parameters without external intervention. The microprocessor monitors motor currents and autonomously modifies current references and voltage commands to optimize performance, enabling the system to self-correct for saturation effects and minimize losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2892148B1Control system and method for an electric three-phase variable speed motor
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP2892148B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2892148B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP2892148B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

A control system (11) for an electric three-phase variable speed motor (12) comprises an inverter (13) for providing power to the motor and a control arrangement (14) for controlling the inverter. The control arrangement comprises a d and q axis currents determining module (16) configured to repeatedly determine d and q axis currents (isd, isq) based on detected currents of the motor; an MTPA control block (17b) for repeatedly generating reference d and q axis currents (i*sd, i*sq) based on the determined d and q axis currents (isd, isq) and a ratio value such that the ratio of the reference d and q axis currents is equal to the ratio value, which is set to unity; a switching signal generation module (18) configured to repeatedly generate switching signals to control the inverter based on the reference d and q axis currents (i*sd, i*sq); and a fine adjustment module (20) which is configured to calculate a magnitude of a current (|i|) or power (P*) of the motor and to determine an optimum compensation ratio value (K(sc)) which is added to the ratio value to form an adjusted ratio value (1+ K(sc)) which when being used by the MTPA control block would cause the motor to operate in a condition wherein the magnitude of a current or power of the motor is minimized, wherein the adjusted ratio value is used by the MTPA control module.