U.S. patent application number 10/554553 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for device for estimating pole position of synchronous motor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Toshiyuki Kaitani, Yoshihiko Kinpara, Akira Satake.
Application Number | 20070018605 10/554553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34074101 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070018605 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Satake; Akira ; et
al. |
January 25, 2007 |
DEVICE FOR ESTIMATING POLE POSITION OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
Abstract
An influence resulting from double saliency of an electric
motor, i.e., an influence of a deviation of the axis of an
alternating current due to a rotor magnetic pole position .theta.
on the estimation of a magnetic pole position, is eliminated, and,
in particular, the magnetic pole position of double saliency
electric motor can be estimated with high precision. To this end,
an alternating voltage impression section impresses an alternating
voltage on an electric motor, a current detection section detects a
motor current, a reference direction generation section outputs an
instantaneous reference direction .theta.' from a rotor magnetic
pole position .theta. of the electric motor, a vector conversion
section separates the detected current into a parallel component
and a quadrature component with respect to the reference direction
.theta.', and a magnetic pole position estimation section estimates
actual rotor magnetic pole position .theta. of the electric motor
based on at least one of the parallel component and the quadrature
component of the current.
Inventors: |
Satake; Akira; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kinpara; Yoshihiko; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Kaitani; Toshiyuki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
700 THIRTEENTH ST. NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3960
US
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
Kaisha
2-3, Marunouchi 2-chome Chiyoda
Tokyo
JP
100-8310
|
Family ID: |
34074101 |
Appl. No.: |
10/554553 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 16, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP03/09031 |
371 Date: |
October 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/720 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02P 6/18 20130101; H02P
21/00 20130101; H02P 25/089 20160201; H02P 25/098 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
318/720 |
International
Class: |
H02P 1/46 20060101
H02P001/46 |
Claims
1. A magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a synchronous
motor comprising: an alternating voltage impression section for
impressing an alternating voltage on an electric motor; a current
detection section for detecting a current flowing through the
electric motor in response to the alternating voltage; a reference
direction generation section for adding a predetermined amount of
deviation corresponding to rotor magnetic pole position of the
electric motor, to the rotor magnetic pole position and any
outputting a reference direction; a vector conversion section for
separating the current detected by said current detection section
into a parallel component and a quadrature component with respect
to the reference direction; and a magnetic pole position estimation
section for estimating actual rotor magnetic pole position of the
electric motor based on at least one of the parallel component and
the quadrature component of the current.
2. A magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a synchronous
motor comprising: an alternating voltage impression section for
impressing an alternating voltage on an electric motor; a current
detection section for detecting a current flowing through the
electric motor in response to the alternating voltage; a reference
direction generation section for adding a predetermined amount of
deviation, corresponding to rotor magnetic pole position of the
electric motor and a stator current of the electric motor, to the
rotor magnetic pole position and outputting a reference direction;
a vector conversion section for separating the current detected by
said current detection section into a parallel component and a
quadrature component with respect to the reference direction; and a
magnetic pole position estimation section for estimating actual
rotor magnetic pole position of the electric motor based on at
least one of the parallel component and the quadrature component of
the current.
3. The magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reference
direction which is obtained by adding the predetermined amount of
deviation to the rotor magnetic pole position corresponds to a
minimum inductance direction for the present state of the electric
motor.
4. A magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a synchronous
motor comprising: an alternating voltage impression direction
generation section for adding a predetermined amount of deviation,
corresponding to a rotor magnetic pole position of an electric
motor, to rotor magnetic pole position outputting a reference
direction corresponding to an alternating voltage impression
direction; an alternating voltage impression section for impressing
an alternating voltage on the electric motor in the alternating
voltage impression direction of the electric motor; a current
detection section for detecting current flowing through the
electric motor in response to the alternating voltage; a vector
conversion section for separating the current detected by said
current detection section into a parallel component and a
quadrature component with respect to the rotor magnetic pole
position; and a magnetic pole position estimation section for
estimating actual rotor magnetic pole position of the electric
motor based on at least one of the parallel component and the
quadrature component of the current.
5. The magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the reference
direction which is obtained by adding the predetermined amount of
deviation to the rotor magnetic pole position corresponds to a
direction of impression of the alternating voltages in which an
alternating current generated by the electric motor instantaneously
coincides with the rotor magnetic pole position.
6. The magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reference
direction which is obtained by adding the predetermined amount of
deviation to the rotor magnetic pole position corresponds to a
minimum inductance direction for the present state of the electric
motor.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a magnetic pole position
estimation apparatus for a synchronous motor which serves to
estimate the rotor magnetic pole position of a double salient pole
electric motor such as a permanent magnet motor, a synchronous
reluctance motor, etc., in which a rotor and a stator of an
alternating current synchronous electric motor have electric
saliency.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In synchronous motors (hereinafter simply referred to as
"electric motors") such as permanent magnet motors, synchronous
reluctance motors, etc., it is necessary to supply an appropriate
current to a stator in accordance with the position of a rotor
magnetic pole, and hence a rotor magnetic pole position sensor is
fundamentally required for driving such a motor. In the case of
using such a rotor magnetic pole position sensor, however, there
are problems such as an increase in the cost, reduction in
reliability and durability, an increase in electric wiring, etc.,
so a sensorless control system is desired which uses no rotor
magnetic pole position sensor. In order to solve these problems,
there has been disclosed, for example, a technique as described in
a first patent document (Japanese patent No. 3312472).
[0003] A conventional apparatus disclosed in the first patent
document includes an alternating voltage impression section that
impresses an alternating voltage to an electric motor, a current
detection section that detects a motor current, a vector conversion
section that divides the detected motor current into a parallel
component and a quadrature component with respect to the
alternating voltage to be impressed, and a magnetic pole position
estimation section that estimates the rotor magnetic pole position
of the electric motor based on at least one of the parallel
component and the quadrature component of the motor current.
[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when there
exists a phase difference (phase difference angle .theta. in the
first patent document between the direction in which the
alternating voltage is impressed and the direction of magnetic
poles, for example, as shown in expression 8 in the first patent
document, the position of a rotor magnetic pole is estimated by
using a phenomenon that an alternating current with an amplitude
proportional to sin 2 .theta. in a direction (a qc axis direction
in the first patent document) orthogonal to the impressed
alternating voltage (in a dc axis direction in the first patent
document).
[0005] The reason for the occurrence of such a phenomenon is that
in general, in electric motors with saliency, the inductance in the
rotor magnetic pole direction becomes maximum (positive saliency)
or minimum (inverse saliency). However, in actual electric motors,
even if the direction in which the alternating voltage is impressed
and the actual magnetic pole direction coincide with each other,
there might be generated an alternating current in a direction
orthogonal to the alternating voltage.
[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates one such an example with the result of
experiments, in which when a rotor magnetic pole position and an
alternating voltage impression direction coincide with each other,
the change of the amplitude of current in a direction orthogonal to
the rotor magnetic pole position according to an alternating
voltage is shown.
[0007] In FIG. 4, the axis of abscissa represents time [s], and the
axis of ordinate represents the rotor magnetic pole position (thin
line) in electrical angle [10/360 degrees] and the current
amplitude (thick line) [A]. As clear from FIG. 4, it is found that
the current amplitude varies in a periodic manner in accordance
with the change of the rotor magnetic pole position in spite of
that the direction in which the alternating voltage is impressed
and the rotor magnetic pole position coincide with each other.
[0008] The reason for the generation of this phenomenon is that in
an actual electric motor, the direction of the rotor magnetic pole
position and the direction of a minimum inductance (or a maximum
inductance) do not coincide with each other, and the amount of
deviation therebetween varies according to the rotor magnetic pole
position.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows the section of an embedded permanent magnet
electric motor used in the experiment of FIG. 4, and eight
rectangular parts of the rotor are permanent magnets embedded
therein. The rotor of this electric motor has eight poles, and a
stator thereof comprises a concentrated winding armature having
twelve slots. It is known that the embedded permanent magnet
electric motor is not axisymmetric in the magnetic circuit
configuration of the rotor and has electric saliency because of the
embedded arrangement of the embedded permanent magnet.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows a simplified iron core structure of the
electric motor of FIG. 5 while taking out only one pair of poles
therefrom. However, note that though the embedded permanent magnet
electric-motor of FIG. 5 has inverse saliency in which inductance
is minimum in the rotor magnetic pole direction (rotor magnetic
pole position), the electric motor model of FIG. 6 has positive
saliency in which inductance is maximum in the rotor magnetic pole
direction. In this regard, the difference between the inverse
saliency and the positive saliency of the electric motor is merely
that the magnetic pole directions defined are displaced by 90
degrees in electrical angle from each other.
[0011] Here, let us consider the change in inductance of the
electric motor according to the axis of observation separately with
respect to the stator and the rotor.
[0012] First of all, considering the inductance change in case of
the absence of saliency in the rotor of the electric motor of FIG.
6, the inductance is uniquely decided by the direction of the
observation axis on the stator irrespective of the rotor magnetic
pole position, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0013] In FIG. 7, an inductance on an observation axis .gamma.=0
and an inductance on an observation axis .gamma.=.pi./3(=60
degrees) become equal to each other because the relative positional
relations between these observation axes and the core of the stator
are identical with each other.
[0014] In contract to this, the inductance on an observation axis
r=0 and an inductance on an observation axis r=.pi./6 (=30 degrees)
do not necessarily become equal to each other because the relative
positional relations between these observation axes and the core of
the stator are different from each other.
[0015] Here, let us assume that the inductance in the observation
axis direction varies on the observation axis .gamma.=0 and on the
observation axis .gamma.=.pi./6 (=30 degrees), and that the
inductance in the observation axis direction changes monotonously
from .gamma.=0 to .gamma.=.pi./6 (=30 degrees) and from r=.pi./6
(=30 degrees) to .gamma.=.pi./3 (=60 degrees). At this time, it is
considered that the change in the inductance according to the
observation axis in the model shown in FIG. 7 varies at a period of
60 degrees in electrical angle, as shown by a broken line in FIG.
8.
[0016] Although various contrivances are made in the motor design
so as to reduce such variation as much as possible, it is
particularly difficult to decrease this variation to zero in a
concentrated winding armature as shown in FIG. 6.
[0017] It is considered that the stator of an electric motor with a
large inductance change as stated above has saliency, and the
electric motor of the structure as shown in FIG. 6, of which both
the rotor and the stator have saliency, is called a double-salient
electric motor.
[0018] Next, when considering the change in inductance in case of
the absence of saliency in a stator, as shown in FIG. 9, the
inductance is decided by an angle between a rotor magnetic pole
position and an observation axis.
[0019] In FIG. 9, an inductance on an observation axis .delta.=0
and an inductance on an observation axis .delta.=.pi. (=180
degrees) become equal to each other because the relative positional
relations between these observation axes and the core of the stator
are identical with each other.
[0020] In contract to this, the inductance on an observation axis
.delta.=0 and an inductance on an observation axis .delta.=.pi./2
(=90 degrees) do not necessarily become equal to each other because
the relative positional relations between these observation axes
and the core of the stator are different from each other.
[0021] Here, it is considered that assuming that the inductance in
the observation axis direction changes monotonously from .delta.=0
to .delta.=.pi./2 (=90 degrees) and from .delta.=.pi./2 (=90
degrees) to .delta.=.pi. (=180 degrees), the change in the
inductance according to the observation axis in the model shown in
FIG. 9 varies at a period of 180 degrees in electrical angle, as
shown by a thin line in FIG. 8.
[0022] The characteristic of the inductance change according to the
observation axis of the electric motor shown in FIG. 6 is obtained
by combining the above-mentioned two inductance characteristics
with each other.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows a stator-induced inductance (thin line), a
rotor-induced inductance (broken line) and a combined inductance
(thick line) when the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. is zero
(.theta.=0) (a U phase winding and the rotor magnetic pole are
confronted with each other). However, in FIG. 8, it is assumed that
the magnitude of each inductance is normalized.
[0024] In the state of FIG. 8, the direction of the rotor salient
pole and the maximum direction of the combined inductance coincide
with each other, and a maximum inductance is reached at electrical
angles of 0 and .pi. (=180 degrees).
[0025] In contrast to this, FIG. 10 shows the characteristic of the
inductance change according to the observation axis of each
inductance in case of the rotor magnetic pole direction (rotor
magnetic pole position) .theta.=.pi./12 (=15 degrees).
[0026] It is found that in the state of FIG. 10, there arises an
amount of deviation (deviation angle) between the rotor magnetic
pole direction (the maximum direction of the rotor inductance) and
the maximum direction of the combined inductance.
[0027] FIG. 11 shows the change of a deviation angle between the
rotor magnetic pole direction and the maximum direction of the
combined inductance when the rotor magnetic pole direction .theta.
is changed from 0 up to .pi. (=180 degrees).
[0028] As is clear from FIG. 11, it is found that the deviation
angle periodically changes in a period of an electrical angle of 60
degrees. Accordingly, it is considered that in an electric motor
with a double salient pole characteristic as shown in FIG. 6, the
deviation angle between the rotor magnetic pole direction and the
maximum direction of the combined inductance is generated 6 times
or periods during one electrical angle revolution (0-360
degrees).
[0029] In addition, as can be seen from FIG. 10, a similar
phenomenon occurs with respect to a direction advanced 90 degrees
from the rotor magnetic pole direction (i.e., the rotor
inverse-salient pole direction) and the minimum combined inductance
direction.
[0030] Thus, it is considered that, as in the experiments of FIG.
4, when the rotor is driven to run with an alternating voltage
being impressed in the rotor magnetic pole direction (i.e., the
rotor inverse-salient pole direction), a deviation angle equal to 6
periods is generated for one revolution in electrical angle between
the direction of impression of the alternating voltage and the
minimum direction of the combined inductance, as a result of which
an alternating current is generated in a direction orthogonal to
the alternating voltage, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0031] Accordingly, the present invention is intended to obviate
the problems as referred to above, and provide a magnetic pole
position estimation apparatus for a synchronous motor which is
capable of estimating the magnetic pole position of a rotor in a
precise manner even in an electric motor with so-called double
saliency by removing an influence resulting from the double
saliency of the electric motor, i.e., an influence of a deviation
of the axis of an alternating current due to the rotor magnetic
pole position on the estimation of the magnetic pole position.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0032] A magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor according to one aspect of the present invention
includes: an alternating voltage impression section for impressing,
an alternating voltage to an electric motor; a current detection
section for detecting a current flowing through the electric motor
in response to the alternating voltage; a reference direction
generation section for adding a predetermined amount of deviation
corresponding to a rotor magnetic pole position of the electric
motor to the rotor magnetic pole position thereby to output a
reference direction; a vector conversion section for separating the
motor current detected by the current detection section into a
parallel component and a quadrature component with respect to the
reference direction; and a magnetic pole position estimation
section for estimating an actual rotor magnetic pole position of
the electric motor based on at least one of the parallel component
and the quadrature component of the motor current.
[0033] In addition, a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus
for a synchronous motor according to another aspect of the present
invention includes: an alternating voltage impression section for
impressing an alternating voltage to an electric motor; a current
detection section for detecting a current flowing through the
electric motor in response to the alternating voltage; a reference
direction generation section for adding a predetermined amount of
deviation corresponding to a rotor magnetic pole position of the
electric motor and a stator current thereof to the rotor magnetic
pole position thereby to output a reference direction; a vector
conversion section for separating the motor current detected by the
current detection section into a parallel component and a
quadrature component with respect to the reference direction; and a
magnetic pole position estimation section for estimating an actual
rotor magnetic pole position of the electric motor based on at
least one of the parallel component and the quadrature component of
the motor current.
[0034] Moreover, a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a further aspect of the present
invention includes: an alternating voltage impression direction
generation section for adding a predetermined amount of deviation
corresponding to a rotor magnetic pole position of an electric
motor to the rotor magnetic pole position thereby to output a
reference direction corresponding to an alternating voltage
impression direction; an alternating voltage impression section for
impressing an alternating voltage to the electric motor in the
alternating voltage impression direction of the electric motor; a
current detection section for detecting a current flowing through
the electric motor in response to the alternating voltage; a vector
conversion section for separating the motor current detected by the
current detection section into a parallel component and a
quadrature component with respect to the rotor magnetic pole
position; and a magnetic pole position estimation section for
estimating an actual rotor magnetic pole position of the electric
motor based on at least one of the parallel component and the
quadrature component of the motor current.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the functional
configuration of a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the functional
configuration of a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing the functional
configuration of a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of a
conventional magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor according to the result of experiments, in which
the changes over time of the amplitude of current in a direction
orthogonal to an alternating voltage and the rotor magnetic pole
position are shown when the rotor magnetic pole position and the
direction of impression of the alternating voltage coincide with
each other.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing an electric motor
used for the experiments of FIG. 4.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a simplified iron
core structure of the electric motor of FIG. 5 while taking out
only one pair of poles therefrom.
[0041] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the case of the
absence of saliency in a rotor in FIG. 6, in which the direction of
an observation axis on the stator is shown so as to describe an
inductance change.
[0042] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the inductance change
according to the observation axis of an electric motor model shown
in FIG. 7.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing the case of the
absence of saliency in the stator in FIG. 6, in which an angle
between the rotor magnetic pole position and the observation axis
is shown so as to describe the inductance change.
[0044] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the characteristic of
an inductance change according to each observation axis in a
conventional magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor.
[0045] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a change of deviation
between a rotor magnetic pole direction and a maximum direction of
a combined inductance in the conventional magnetic pole position
estimation apparatus for a synchronous motor.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0046] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail while referring to the accompanying
drawings.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram that shows the functional
configuration of a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0048] In FIG. 1, the magnetic pole position estimation apparatus
for a synchronous motor according to the first embodiment of the
present invention includes an oscillator 1, a coordinate converter
2, a drive circuit 3, a current sensor 4, an electric motor 5, a
coordinate converter 6, an axis deviation table 7, an adder 8, a
signal generator 9, a vector generator 10, a controller 11, a
multiplier 12, a subtracter 13, and multipliers 14, 15.
[0049] The oscillator 1 generates a d axis signal Vd in the form of
an alternating voltage (dq axes) impressed to the electric motor 5,
and the coordinate converter 2 serves to perform coordinate
transformation of the alternating voltage (Vd, Vq) of a two axis
rotation coordinate system (dq axes) into a voltage (Vu, Vv, Vw) of
a three phase fixed coordinate system UVW), and output it as an
output voltage command.
[0050] The drive circuit 3 impresses a three phase output voltage
corresponding to the output voltage command to the electric motor
5, and the current sensor 4 detects a three phase motor current
(iu, iv, iw) supplied to the electric motor 5 in accordance with
the three phase output voltage.
[0051] The coordinate converter 6 constitutes a vector conversion
section that serves to separate the motor current into a parallel
component and a quadrature component (.alpha., .beta.) with respect
to a reference direction (minimum inductance direction .theta.'),
and it coordinate transforms the motor current (iu, iv, iw) into a
current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) on two phase fixed
coordinates (.alpha., .beta.).
[0052] The axis deviation table 7 stores in advance the relation
between a rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and a deviation
angle .zeta., and outputs the deviation angle .zeta. corresponding
to an input value (estimated value) of the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta..
[0053] The adder 8 adds the deviation angle .zeta. and the rotor
magnetic pole position .theta. to each other to provide a minimum
inductance direction .theta.', and the vector generator 10
calculates a unit reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) in the minimum
inductance direction .theta.'.
[0054] The multiplier 14 multiplies an .alpha. component of the
reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) and a .beta. component
i.sub..beta. of the current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.),
the multiplier 15 multiplies a .beta. component of the reference
vector and an .alpha. component i.sub..alpha. of the current
vector, and the subtracter 13 subtracts an output value of the
multiplier 15 from an output value of the multiplier 14.
[0055] The multipliers 14, 15 and the subtracter 13 calculate an
outer product of the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) and the
current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) on two phase fixed
coordinates, and obtains a component of the current vector
(i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) orthogonal to the reference vector
(.alpha., .beta.).
[0056] The signal generator 9 generates a signal at the same
frequency as that of the output voltage of the oscillator 1 with
its phase being 90 degrees therebehind, and the multiplier 12
multiplies the output signal of the signal generator 9 and the
output signal of the subtracter 13 with each other.
[0057] The controller 11 estimates the rotor magnetic pole position
.theta. from the output value of the multiplier 12, and inputs the
rotor magnetic pole position .theta. thus estimated to the
coordinate converter 2, the axis deviation table 7 and the adder
8.
[0058] Next, reference will be made to the operation of this first
embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0059] First of all, the alternating voltage Vd generated from the
oscillator 1 is input to the coordinate converter 2 as a d axis
signal, whereas a ground potential "0" is input to the coordinate
converter 2 as a q axis signal Vq.
[0060] The coordinate converter 2 converts the input signal (the d
axis signal Vd and the q axis signal Vq) in accordance with the
rotor magnetic pole position .theta. (estimated value), and
coordinate transforms it from the two axis rotation coordinate
system (dq axes) into a voltage output value (Vu, Vv, Vw) of three
phase fixed coordinates (UVW).
[0061] The transformed output (three phase output voltage commands
Vu, Vv and Vw) of the coordinate converter 2 is input to the drive
circuit 3 as a voltage command thereof, and the drive circuit 3
impresses a voltage corresponding to the output voltage command to
the three phase winding terminals of the electric motor 5.
[0062] The motor currents (iu, iv, iw) flowing through the windings
of the respective phases (UVW) of the electric motor 5 are detected
by the current sensor 4, and a detection signal from the current
sensor 4 is converted from the three phase fixed coordinates (UVW)
into a current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) of two phase
fixed coordinates (.alpha..beta. axes) through the coordinate
converter 6.
[0063] At this time, for instance, in case where the electric motor
5 is a double-salient electric motor (see FIG. 6), there arises an
amount of periodic deviation (angle of deviation [degrees])
corresponding to an electric angle between the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta. (the rotor inverse-salient pole direction) and the
minimum inductance direction .theta.' (see FIG. 11).
[0064] The amount of deviation is generated by the interaction of
the rotor in the electric motor 5 and the saliency of the stator,
and becomes a value which is determined in accordance with the
electrical angle (rotor position) of the observation axis .gamma.
(see FIG. 7). Accordingly, if the relation of the amount of
deviation to the rotor position is obtained beforehand, it is
possible to uniquely determine the minimum inductance direction
.theta.' (the direction in which the inductance is minimized) at a
time point of recognition (the present state) by recognizing the
rotor magnetic pole position .theta..
[0065] The axis deviation table 7 beforehand stores, as a table,
the relation between the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and
the deviation angle .zeta. between the rotor magnetic pole position
.theta. and the minimum inductance axis, and uniquely determines
the deviation angle .zeta. corresponding to the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta. (estimated value).
[0066] Subsequently, the adder 8 adds the deviation angle .zeta.
determined by the axis deviation table 7 and the rotor magnetic
pole position .theta. to each other to provide the minimum
inductance direction .theta.'.
[0067] Moreover, the vector generator 10 determines a unit
reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) on two phase fixed coordinates
(.alpha. .beta. axes) which becomes the minimum inductance
direction .theta.'.
[0068] Then, the multipliers 14, 15 and the subtracter 13 obtain a
component of the current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.)
orthogonal to the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) by calculating
an outer product of the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) and the
current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) on two phase fixed
coordinates.
[0069] The signal generator 9 generates a signal which has the same
frequency as the output frequency of the oscillator 1 with its
phase being 90 degrees behind the phase thereof. Accordingly, the
output signal of the signal generator 9 coincides in phase with the
alternating current generated by the alternating voltage impressed
to the electric motor 5.
[0070] The multiplier 12 multiplies the output signal of the signal
generator 9 and the output signal of the subtracter 13, i.e., a
component of the current vector orthogonal to the reference vector
(.alpha., .beta.) (outer product value) thereby to obtain a
component of the alternating current generated by the alternating
voltage, orthogonal to the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.)
(i.e., a component orthogonal to the minimum inductance direction
.theta.').
[0071] Here, note that if the estimated rotor magnetic pole
position .theta. and the actual rotor magnetic pole position
coincide with each other, the directions of the alternating current
generated and the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.) coincide with
each other, so the output value of the multiplier 12 becomes
"0".
[0072] On the other hand, if there is an error or deviation between
the estimated rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the actual
rotor magnetic pole position, the direction of the alternating
current generated deviates from the direction of the reference
vector (.alpha., .beta.), as a result of which the output value of
the multiplier 12 becomes a value corresponding to the error or
deviation of the rotor magnetic pole position .theta., which is
then input to the controller 11.
[0073] The controller 11 performs an accurate estimation
calculation by carrying out appropriate control in accordance with
an error signal output from the multiplier 12 thereby to make the
estimated rotor magnetic pole position .theta. coincide with the
actual rotor magnetic pole position without receiving the influence
of the deviation angle .zeta. between the magnetic pole and the
minimum inductance axis (see FIG. 4) in a double-salient electric
motor as shown in FIG. 6.
[0074] Thus, even when the electric motor 5 has so-called double
saliency, the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. can be
excellently estimated.
[0075] In the above-mentioned first embodiment (FIG. 1), only the
magnetic pole position estimation device for an electric motor is
illustrated, but when the present invention is actually applied to
a motor control system, the magnetic pole position estimation
device shown in FIG. 1 is used while being built into an orderly
driving control system of the electric motor 5. Accordingly, though
a variety of circuit components or configurations (e.g., a current
controller to be described later, etc.) not shown in FIG. 1 are
associated with the configuration of FIG. 1, an explanation on the
configuration of the entire control system is omitted here because
of its complexity.
[0076] In addition, though in the above-mentioned first embodiment,
the deviation angle .zeta. of the minimum inductance axis with
respect to the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. is stored in
the axis deviation table 7, a calculation section using a formula
with the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. employed as an input
parameter may be provided in place of the axis deviation table
7.
[0077] Moreover, though the outer product value is calculated from
the current vector (i.sub..alpha., i.sub..beta.) so as to extract a
component orthogonal to the reference vector (.alpha., .beta.),
another vector calculation method (e.g., coordinate transformation,
etc.) having a similar function may instead be used.
[0078] Further, though the magnetic pole position is estimated by
impressing an alternating voltage to the electric motor 5 and
detecting and processing an alternating current generated, the
magnetic pole position may be estimated by supplying an alternating
current to the electric motor 5 and detecting and processing the
alternating voltage generated, as described in the aforementioned
first patent document, for example.
EMBODIMENT 2
[0079] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the axis deviation
table 7 is provided that processes in consideration of only the
periodic deviation angle .zeta. (the amount of deviation)
corresponding to the electrical angle generated between the rotor
magnetic pole direction .theta. (i.e., the rotor inverse-salient
pole direction) of the electric motor 5 in the form of the
double-salient electric motor (see FIG. 6) and the minimum
inductance direction .theta., but in view of the fact that the mode
of the amount of periodic deviation is caused to change according
to the motor current when the inductances of the rotor and the
stator are changed by magnetic saturation due to the motor current,
there may also be provided another axis deviation table that takes
account of the change in the amount of the deviation due to the
motor current.
[0080] In this case, since the change in the mode of the amount of
deviation is uniquely decided by the motor current, if the relation
of the change in the amount of deviation due to the motor current
is obtained beforehand, a direction .theta.' in which the
inductance in the present state is minimized can uniquely be
obtained from the motor current and the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta..
[0081] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram that shows the functional
configuration due to a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus
for a synchronous motor according to a second embodiment of the
present invention, in which an axis deviation table 7A serves to
perform processing while taking account of a change in the amount
of deviation due to a motor current.
[0082] In FIG. 2, the same parts or components as those described
above (see FIG. 1) are identified by the same symbols or by the
same symbols with "A" affixed to their ends, while omitting a
detailed explanation thereof.
[0083] The magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor according to the second embodiment of the present
invention includes, in addition to an oscillator 1, a coordinate
converter 2, a drive circuit 3, a current sensor 4, an electric
motor 5, a coordinate converter 6, an axis deviation table 7A, an
adder 8, a signal generator 9, a vector generator 10, a controller
11, a multiplier 12, a subtracter 13 and multipliers 14, 15, a
current controller 16 and an adder 17 which are associated with the
drive circuit 3 and the axis deviation table 7A.
[0084] In FIG. 2, there is illustrated, among the circuit
components of the entire control system, the current controller 16
that is directly associated with the magnetic pole position
estimation apparatus.
[0085] The current controller 16 is used for ordinary motor
control, and serves to generate, as output signals, a motor current
(id, iq) on a two axis rotation coordinate system (dq axes) and a
voltage command on three phase fixed coordinates (UVW) from a motor
current (iu, iv, iw), a rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and a
current command (id*, iq*) in a two axis rotation coordinate system
(dq axes) as input signals.
[0086] Specifically, the current controller 16 generates the
voltage command on the three phase fixed coordinates (UVW) from the
motor current (iu, iv, iw) on the three phase fixed coordinates
(UVW) according to the current command (id*, iq*), and inputs the
motor current (id, iq) in the two axis rotation coordinate system
(dq axes) to the axis deviation table 7A.
[0087] The adder 17 adds the voltage command from the current
controller 16 and an alternating signal for magnetic pole position
estimation from the coordinate converter 2 to each other, and
inputs the thus added result to the drive circuit 3 as an output
voltage command (Vu, Vv, Vw).
[0088] At this time, the frequency of the alternating voltage used
for magnetic pole position estimation is set higher than the
current response frequency of the current controller 16 so as riot
to cause interference between the current controller 16 and the
magnetic pole position estimation according to the alternating
voltage. Alternatively, there may be provided, as another
countermeasure to avoid such interference, a filter in the current
controller 16 for removing a high frequency component of the
current signal.
[0089] The axis deviation table 7A stores the relation between the
rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the deviation angle .zeta.
between the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the minimum
inductance axis with respect to the motor current (id, iq), and
obtains and outputs a deviation angle .zeta. from the motor current
(id, iq) output from the current controller 16 and the rotor
magnetic pole position .theta. output from the controller 11.
[0090] Hereinafter, similarly as described above, by performing the
estimation calculation processing using the deviation angle .zeta.,
the rotor magnetic pole position can be estimated to a high degree
of precision without receiving the influence of the inductance
change due to the motor current (iu, iv, iw).
EMBODIMENT 3
[0091] In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the
deviation angle .zeta. (the amount of deviation) is processed in
consideration of the double saliency of the electric motor 5 on the
basis of the rotor magnetic pole direction of an alternating
current that is generated by an alternating voltage impressed in
the rotor magnetic pole direction of the electric motor 5, but it
may be possible to perform processing so as to make an alternating
current, which is generated upon impression of an alternating
voltage in a direction deviated from the rotor magnetic pole
direction of the electric motor 5, coincide with the rotor magnetic
pole direction by using a deviation angle of the alternating
voltage.
[0092] FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram that shows the functional
configuration of a magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for
a synchronous motor according to a third embodiment of the present
invention, in which an alternating current is controlled to
coincide with a rotor magnetic pole direction by using a deviation
angle .zeta. of an alternating voltage impression direction from
the rotor magnetic pole direction.
[0093] In FIG. 3, the same parts or components as those described
above (see FIG. 1) are identified by the same symbols or by the
same symbols with "B" affixed to their ends, while omitting a
detailed explanation thereof.
[0094] The magnetic pole position estimation apparatus for a
synchronous motor according to the third embodiment of the present
invention includes an oscillator 1B, a coordinate converter 2B, a
drive circuit 3, a current sensor 4, an electric motor 5, a
coordinate converter 6B, a voltage deviation table 7B, an adder 8B,
a signal generator 9, a controller 11, and a multiplier 12B,
similarly as stated above.
[0095] In this case, an alternating voltage Vd' (d axis signal)
output from the oscillator 1B is impressed to the electric motor 5
in a direction deviated from the rotor magnetic pole direction.
[0096] The coordinate converter 2B coordinate transforms an input
signal in the two axis rotation coordinate system (a d axis signal
Vd' and a q axis signal Vq') into a voltage output value of three
phase fixed coordinates in accordance with an alternating voltage
impression direction calculated from the deviation angle .zeta.'
and the rotor magnetic pole position .theta..
[0097] The coordinate converter 6B constitutes a vector conversion
section that serves to separate the motor current detected by the
current sensor 4 into a parallel component and a quadrature
component (dq) with respect to the rotor magnetic pole position
.theta., and outputs a two phase current vector (id, iq.
[0098] The multiplier 12B multiplies a q axis component iq of the
current vector and the output signal of the signal generator 9 with
each other, and inputs the result obtained to the controller 11.
The other d axis component id of the current vector is used in an
unillustrated control system.
[0099] The controller 11 obtains the rotor magnetic pole position
.theta. from the multiplied value of the multiplier 12B, and inputs
it to the voltage deviation table 7B, the adder 8B, and the
coordinate converter 6B.
[0100] The axis deviation table 7 stores, as a table, the relation
between the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the deviation
angle .zeta.' between the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and
the alternating voltage impression direction, and outputs the
deviation angle .zeta.' in accordance with the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta. (estimated value).
[0101] The adder 8B constitutes an alternating voltage impression
direction generation section, and obtains the alternating voltage
impression direction .theta. `B by adding the deviation angle
.zeta.` and the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. to each other
and inputs it to the coordinate converter 2B as a reference
direction.
[0102] Here, in case where the electric motor 5 is a double-salient
electric motor (see FIG. 6), when an alternating voltage is
impressed to the electric motor 5 in a direction coinciding with
the rotor magnetic pole position .theta., there arises a periodic
deviation angle .zeta. corresponding to an electric angle between
the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. (the rotor inverse-salient
pole direction) and the minimum inductance direction .theta.', as
stated above (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), and the deviation angle
.zeta. thus generated is uniquely determined in accordance with the
rotor magnetic pole position .theta.. As a result, an alternating
current is generated in a direction deviated from the rotor
magnetic pole position .theta. by the deviation angle .zeta..
[0103] At this time, it is evident that by appropriately shifting
the direction of the alternating voltage to be impressed to the
electric motor 5 to a direction opposite to a shift direction due
to the deviation angle .zeta., it is possible to make the direction
of the alternating current and the rotor magnetic pole direction
.theta. coincide with each other. Accordingly, from the relation
between the rotor magnetic pole direction (the rotor magnetic pole
position .theta.) and the minimum inductance direction .theta. in
the above-mentioned double-salient electric motor, a deviation
angle .zeta.' of the alternating voltage impression direction that
makes the direction of the alternating current and the rotor
magnetic pole direction (the rotor magnetic pole position .theta.)
coincide with each other is uniquely decided by the rotor magnetic
pole position .theta..
[0104] Accordingly, the voltage deviation table 7B stores the
relation between the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the
deviation angle .zeta.' of the alternating voltage impression
direction, and the adder 8B obtains: an alternating voltage
impression direction .theta.'B by adding the deviation angle
.zeta.' and an estimated rotor magnetic pole position .theta. to
each other, whereby the coordinate converter 2B coordinate
transforms the alternating voltage generated by the oscillator 1B
in accordance with the alternating voltage impression direction
.theta.'B.
[0105] The motor current detected by the current sensor 4 is
transformed from three phase fixed coordinates (UVW) into two phase
rotation coordinates (dq axes) on the basis of the estimated rotor
magnetic pole position .theta. in the coordinate converter 6B.
[0106] The multiplier 12B obtains a component of the motor current
generated by the alternating voltage orthogonal to the rotor
magnetic pole direction .theta. by multiplying the output signal
from the signal generator 9 and the q axis component iq of the
motor current output from the coordinate converter 6B, and inputs
it to the controller 11.
[0107] Here, note that if the estimated rotor magnetic pole
position .theta. and the actual rotor magnetic pole position
coincide with each other, the direction of the generated
alternating current and the rotor magnetic pole direction (rotor
magnetic pole position .theta.) coincide with each other, so the
output value of the multiplier 12B becomes "0".
[0108] On the other hand, when an error or deviation exists between
the estimated rotor magnetic pole position .theta. and the actual
rotor magnetic pole position, the output value of the multiplier
12B will have a value corresponding to the error or deviation.
[0109] Accordingly, by inputting an error signal from the
multiplier 12B to the controller 11 thereby to perform appropriate
control, the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. is made to
coincide with the actual rotor magnetic pole position thereby to
estimate and calculate the rotor magnetic pole position .theta. to
a high degree of precision, as in the above-mentioned first and
second embodiments.
[0110] In addition, in case of FIG. 3, if the estimated rotor
magnetic pole position .theta. and the actual rotor magnetic pole
position coincide with each other, any alternating current
orthogonal to the rotor magnetic pole direction (the rotor magnetic
pole position .theta.) is not generated. Accordingly, it is
possible to avoid the generation of torque pulsation of the
electric motor 5 resulting from the alternating current upon
detection of the magnetic pole of the electric motor 5.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0111] As described above, according to a magnetic pole position
estimation apparatus for an alternating current synchronous
electric motor of the present invention, provisions are made for an
alternating voltage impression section for impressing an
alternating voltage to an electric motor, a current detection
section for detecting a current flowing through the electric motor
in response to the alternating voltage, a reference direction
generation section for adding a predetermined amount of deviation
corresponding to a rotor magnetic pole position of the electric
motor to the rotor magnetic pole position thereby to output a
reference direction, a vector conversion section for separating the
motor current detected by the current detection section into a
parallel component and a quadrature component with respect to the
reference direction, and a magnetic pole position estimation
section for estimating an actual rotor magnetic pole position of
the electric motor based on at least one of the parallel component
and the quadrature component of the motor current. With such an
arrangement, an influence resulting from the double saliency of the
electric motor (i.e., an influence of a deviation of the axis of an
alternating current due to the rotor magnetic pole position .theta.
on the estimation of the magnetic pole position) can be eliminated,
thus making it possible to estimate the magnetic pole position of
the double saliency electric motor with a high degree of
precision.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0112] The present invention can be used as a magnetic pole
position estimation apparatus for a synchronous motor which serves
to estimate the rotor magnetic pole position of a double salient
pole electric motor such as a permanent magnet motor, a synchronous
reluctance motor, etc., in which a rotor and a stator of an
alternating current synchronous electric motor have electric
saliency.
* * * * *