Wound-Rotor Synchronous Machine Sensorless Position and Speed Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the position and speed of a synchronous electric machine with a wound rotor rely on mechanical sensors, which are expensive, bulky, and sensitive to environmental factors, or sensorless control methods that remain dependent on machine parameters, lacking robustness and adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A method that measures three-phase currents and injects a high-frequency voltage signal to estimate rotor position and speed independently of stator inductance values, using a demodulation step and adaptive gain calculations to refine estimates, thereby reducing dependency on machine parameters and improving robustness and simplicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If mechanical position and speed sensors are installed on the mechanical shaft, then position and speed measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity, cost, and sensitivity to environmental factors increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition and speed measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor installation and system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical position and speed sensors with a software-based estimation algorithm that calculates rotor position and speed from electrical current measurements. This substitution eliminates mechanical sensors entirely, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through mathematical modeling of the machine's electrical characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary estimation algorithm that acts as a mediator between current measurements and position/speed determination. Instead of directly measuring position and speed with sensors, the algorithm uses current signals as intermediaries to infer rotor state, avoiding the need for mechanical sensors and their associated complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If sensorless control methods using closed-loop estimation algorithms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but dependency on machine parameters increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor installation and system complexityVSAvoiddependency on machine parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the approach from using fixed machine parameters to using adaptive parameter estimation. The algorithm dynamically adjusts its internal model parameters based on real-time current measurements, allowing it to adapt to different machine configurations without requiring precise prior knowledge of inductance values or other machine-specific parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal estimation algorithm that can be applied to different wound rotor synchronous machines regardless of their specific parameters. By designing the algorithm to be parameter-independent, it achieves multi-functionality and can be used across various machine types without reconfiguration, enhancing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If high-frequency signal injection methods are used, then position detection robustness is improved, but dependency on injected signal characteristics and machine parameters remains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection robustnessVSAvoidsignal injection and demodulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for position and speed estimation from the current signals, rather than implementing complex demodulation of high-frequency injected signals. By taking out only the necessary components and ignoring the rest, the system achieves robust position detection without the complexity of full signal demodulation and without dependency on injected signal characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3824540B1Position and speed determination of a synchron electric machine wounded rotor method
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 RENAULT SA
  • EP3824540B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3824540B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3824540B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for estimating the speed and position of a rotor of a wound-rotor synchronous machine powered by a three-phase inverter, comprising a step of estimating the position of the rotor (Θ) according to a position gain parameter (Ke) and the sign (0'') of the calculated error (ε) and independently of the parameters of the electric machine, such as stator inductance values of the electric machine; and a step of estimating the rotor speed (œ) according to a speed gain parameter (K(J) and the sign (0'') of the calculated error (ε) and independently of the parameters of the electric machine, such as stator inductance values of the electric machine.