Dynamics of Electromechanical Systems Containing Long Elastic Couplings and Safety of Their Operation

Abstract

The electromechanical systems under analysis include electric drives, working machines that perform specific tasks in the technological process, and working mechanisms that transmit mechanical power between the electric drive and the working machine. The vast majority of electric motors included in drive systems require rotational speed control. This task is most often performed with the use of closed-loop control structures based on speed controllers. A step or overly rapid change in the speed reference causes a temporary lock of the speed controller due to the applied limitations at its output. Particularly, unfavorable effects of such a lock can be observed in drive systems in which there is a long elastic coupling (transmission shaft) between the electric motor and the working machine. As a consequence, shaft torsion and accompanying twisting moments of considerable amplitudes appear. This article proposes an uncomplicated active torque limiter structure, which enables the uninterrupted operation of the speed controller thanks to the automatic adaptation of the rate of the speed reference change to any moment of inertia of the rotor and attached rotating masses. The results of the investigations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed structure.