Phase Advance and Dwell Control Applied to a PM BLDC Motor for Increasing the Maximum Speed of an Electric Vehicle

Abstract

Multiple studies and analyzes performed in the past confirmed the capabilities of the Permanent Magnets Brushless DC (PM BLDC) motors in traction applications. While the drive systems are simpler and more robust than those used for AC PM brushless motors, the BLDC has the disadvantage of a limited operational speed span. Phase advance and dwell control are two very efficient methods allowing to expand the speed capabilities of the BLDC, and they continue to be investigated. In this context, the actual paper presents a MATLAB-Simulink model used to model phase advance and dwell control of a BLDC used in an electric vehicle. A new optimization method is proposed by adjusting the phase advance and dwell control angles according to motor speed when the current in the motor is limited to a maximum value.