Comparison of Feedback Field-Weakening Techniques for Synchronous Machines with Permanent Magnets

Abstract

In recent decades the market share of electrical cars has increased significantly, which has paved the way for the development of automotive electronics. Some of the most important parts of modern electrical vehicles are motor drives, which are used in car training and mechanization. Electrical drives are used in powertrains for traction, in air conditioning systems to cool cars and their parts, in doors for opening/closing as well as window movements, etc. The most popular motor type in electrical vehicles is synchronous motors with permanent magnets, which are compact and provide high torque. However, these motors require the development of control systems for proper operation. This system has to have the capacity to implement several state-of-the-art techniques, which can fully utilize motor potential, increase its efficiency, and decrease battery usage. One of these techniques is field-weakening, which overcomes speed limitations due to a lack of supply voltage and increases the motor’s speed operation range. This paper discusses the most popular approaches to field-weakening, including a new method proposed by the author. It considers both the pros and cons of each approach and provides recommendations for their usage. After that, this manuscript demonstrates the experimental results of each field-weakening technique obtained in the same motor drive, compares their performance, and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, the experimental part demonstrates that the proposed field-weakening approach demonstrates similar dynamics in load transients but provides 10 times less load to the microcontroller.