C h a p t e r 1
The landscape of motor control is diverse, with various motor types
serving different industries and applications. Broadly, the major motor
types are AC, brushed DC, stepper, and brushless DC (BLDC), each of
which presents unique challenges and opportunities that engineers must
address to optimize performance, reliability, and efficiency.
AC Motors
AC motors, particularly induction motors, are used in industrial
applications because of their robustness and high-power capabilities.
Historically, AC motors were operated directly from the grid, meaning
that the motors operated at fixed speeds (with a very small variation of
<5% over load). But, today's motors are increasingly driven by power
electronics converters that sit between the AC grid and the motor. These
power electronics converters consist of a rectifier that converts the AC
input to a DC voltage, usually in the range of 400–1000V, and an inverter
that converts the DC voltage to a variable-frequency, variable-voltage
three-phase AC signal that drives the motor.
MOTOR TYPES AND THEIR
CONTROL CHALLENGES
Thomas Ernst
Staff Engineer, Product Applications,
Analog Devices
Understanding the capabilities
and limitations of each motor
type not only helps to lay
out the motor control
system properly. It can
also enable the motor
itself as a sensor, by using
the feedback voltage of
the motor optimally for
advanced diagnostics and
control algorithms to increase
reliability and efficiency."
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14 Experts Discuss Motor Control in Modern Applications
