Sensorless Control of Synchronous Machines in Python Using Signal Injection : An implementation of a High-Frequency Square-Wave Injection Algorithm on a Linear and Non-Linear Synchronous Machine Model in open-source Software Motulator

Abstract: The importance of accurately controlling the speed and torque of Synchronous Machines (SMs) in industry, transportation, aerospace, to name a few, can not be overstated. The driving unit to control the machines are called Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) and they can be designed in many different ways. In this project, a speed sensorless drive using high-frequency square-wave voltage injection is implemented in a open-source Python software called Motulator, developed by Prof. Marko Hinkkanen at Aalto University. The drive is first tested on an already existing linear model of a Permament Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM). An equivalent model is built in Matlab/Simulink to benchmark the performance of the implementation in Python. The results suggest that the performance Motulator implementation is satisfactory when compared to the Simulink implementation. Next, a non-linear Synchronous Reluctance Machine (SynRM) is implemented, using data from Finite Element (FEM) simulations of the non-linear flux-current relation. By using the injection scheme (with some tweaks), the speed of the motor is accurately controlled, but a steady-state position error is observed at all operating points. The error is produced due to the cross-saturation effect and a compensation strategy is implemented in an attempt to remove this error. however without full success.