This paper deals with the high accurate current set-points solution for Interior Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motors (IPMSM) in wide-speed range applications. Considering voltage and current constraints, the operating regions can be divided into Maximum Torque Per Ampere (MTPA), Maximum Current (MC), Field Weakening (FW) and Maximum Torque Per Voltage (MTPV) regions, which requires to solve different non-linear functions in real time to obtain optimal current set-points. Traditional methods including curve-fitting methods and polynomial approximation (PA) methods are not easy to obtain these solutions, especially involving magnetic saturation problems. In this paper, Newton- Raphson (N-R) algorithm for improving the control accuracy of the current set-points is proposed. Meanwhile, parameters influence including magnetic saturation and resistive voltage drop is fully investigated. Compared with PA method, the proposed method is able to converge to accurate solutions in few numbers of iterations with reduced execution time, which can be easily implemented on an off-the-shelf Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Both simulation results and experimental results on an 8kW IPMSM rig are conducted showing good agreement with the expected results.

The rotor structure of synchronous reluctance machines (SynRel) is conventionally retained mechanically by iron ribs. In this paper, a novel structure for high-speed synchronous reluctance rotor is presented. The novelty of this paper is the proof of a concept of SynRel machine without iron ribs. Structurally, the rotor iron lamination segments are embedded in an adhesive resin material with high temperature resistance and mechanical strength. Three four-pole SynRel machines have been designed with the target of improving motor torque, and compared for different ribs configuration. It has been shown that the proposed motor performs enhanced torque, power factor, and efficiency with respect to conventional SynRel with iron ribs. An extensive sensitivity analysis of the ribless rotor geometry is carried out, followed by both mechanical analysis and experimental over speed test to guarantee its robustness above the operating speed range. The manufacturing procedure of this novel rotor is introduced. Finally, the experimental results on both SynRel prototypes are presented, showing the increase in torque, power factor, and efficiency of the proposed solution. This paper is a first step toward the definition of a viable and novel solution of SynRel machines with improved performance.

Lately, adequate protection strategies need to be developed when Microgrids (MGs) are connected to smart grids to prevent undesirable tripping. Conventional relay settings need to be adapted to changes in Distributed Generator (DG) penetrations or grid reconfigurations, which is a complicated task that can be solved efficiently using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based protection. This paper compares and validates the difference between conventional protection (overcurrent and differential) strategies and a new strategy based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), which have been shown as adequate protection, especially with reconfigurable smart grids. In addition, the limitations of the conventional protections are discussed. The AI protection is employed through the communication between all Protective Devices (PDs) in the grid, and a backup strategy that employs the communication among the PDs in the same line. This paper goes a step further to validate the protection strategies based on simulations using the MATLAB^TM platform and experimental results using a scaled grid. The AI-based protection method gave the best solution as it can be adapted for different grids with high accuracy and faster response than conventional protection, and without the need to change the protection settings. The scaled grid was designed for the smart grid to advocate the behavior of the protection strategies experimentally for both conventional and AI-based protections.

This paper is focused on the design, optimisation and control of a permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance machine (PMaSynRel) for low cost high efficiency household appliances, in particular a motor for washing machine. The design and optimisation of the motor aims at maximising the torque produced and power factor, while minimise torque oscillations and the losses, thus improving the efficiency. A campaign of tests has been carried out on the prototype of the optimised machine, comparing finite element results and experimental measurements as a validation of the proposed design. In addition, torque ripple measurements are confirming that the solution proposed is meeting the optimisation design targets. The outcomes of this project are demonstrating that PMaSynRel drives are a suitable candidate for white goods sector, and that the proposed design is able to boost the performance and efficiency class with respect to the state-of-the-art solutions.

In this paper, a cost-effective and highly accurate resolver-to-digital conversion (RDC) method is presented. The core of the idea is to apply a third-order rational fraction polynomial approximation (TRFPA) for the conversion of sinusoidal signals into the pseudo linear signals, which are extended to the range 0-360° in four quadrants. Then, the polynomial least squares method (PLSM) is used to achieve compensation to acquire the final angles. The presented method shows better performance in terms of accuracy and rapidity compared with the commercial available techniques in simulation results. This paper describes the implementation details of the proposed method and the way to incorporate it in digital signal processor (DSP) based permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system. Experimental tests under different conditions are carried out to verify the effectiveness for the proposed method. The obtained maximum error is about 0.0014° over 0-360°, which can usually be ignored in most industrial applications.

The rapid development of transportation electrification brings unprecedented opportunities and challenges as well to the technological improvement of high-power density motors. As the major restriction of the motor performance, thermal issues attract more attentions recently and the heat pipe (HP), due to its high thermal conductivity and lightweight characteristics, is identified as a promising solution. Though HPs have been attempted in cooling systems of electrical machines, their thermal benefits still need to be fully understood. This article provides a comprehensive review and performs a series of experimental investigations to fill the technology gaps for the HP application in electrical machines. Firstly, the HP technology is briefly introduced, followed by a detailed review on its applications in different locations of electrical machines with corresponding thermal improvements reported. Then, experimental tests are conducted to investigate the correlation between the HPs’ parameters and their cooling effectiveness, including cross-sectional shape, bending angle, fins arrangement and inclination angle. The obtained results and conclusions could provide a guideline for the promotion of HPs in next generation electrical machines for future transportation.