Design of Constraints for Seeking Maximum Torque per Ampere Techniques in an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Control

Abstract

The efficient control of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) requires the development of a technique for loss optimization. The best approach is the implementation of power loss minimization algorithms, which are hard to model and design. Therefore, the developers typically involve maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control, which optimizes Joule loss only. The conventional MTPA control requires knowledge of motor parameters and can only properly operate when these parameters are constant. However, motor parameters vary depending on operating conditions; thus, conventional techniques cannot be used. Furthermore, many industrial drives are designed for self-commissioning, and they do not have prior information on motor parameters. In order to solve this problem, various MTPA-seeking techniques, which track the minimum of motor current, have been developed. The dynamic performance between these seeking algorithms and maximum deviation from the true MTPA trajectory are defined by the constraints in most cases, in which proper design improves the dynamic behavior of MTPA-seeking algorithms. This paper considers a PMSM, which was designed to operate in the saturation area and whose MTPA trajectory significantly deviates from the same curve constructed for the initial unsaturated parameters. This paper considers existing approaches, explains their pros and cons, and demonstrates that these methods do not utilize full potential of the motor. A new constraint design was proposed and explained step by step. The experiment verifies the proposed technique and demonstrates improvements in efficiency and dynamic behavior of the seeking algorithm.