Stability Analysis and Robust Controller Design of Indirect Vector Controlled Induction Motor

Abstract

The thesis considers stability analysis and controller design through different performance measures for indirect vector controlled induction motor (IVCIM).These problems are known to be complex due to nonlinearity, large order and multi-loop scenario. Some new approaches and results on IVCIM are proposed in this work.

IVCIM dynamics is well known for having different bifurcation behavior, viz., saddle-node, Hopf, Bogdanov–Takens and Zero–Hopf bifurcations due to rotor resistance variation. These bifurcations affect the control performance and may lead to stalling or permanent damage of motor. A numerical analysis of these bifurcations for proportional integral (PI) controlled IVCIM is made in this thesis using full-order induction motor model (stator dynamics is included). This analysis aids to determine the allowable bifurcation parameter variation range as well as suitable choice of speed-loop gains to avoid these. Some new observations on the bifurcation behavior are made. Simulation and experimental results are presented validating the bifurcation behaviors.

For improving dynamic performance in the presence of load torque and rotor resistance variation, a new method for designing PI gains is proposed for IVCIM. The inner-loop current PI controllers are tuned simultaneously along with the speed controller. This method is implemented using a static output feedback scheme in which iterative linear matrix inequality (ILMI) based𝐻∞control technique is employed. Such a design makes stator currents and speed response to be robust against rotor resistance and load variations. A comparison between proposed design and a conventional one is shown using simulation and experimental results that validate the superiority of the proposed approach.

Owing to multi-loop and nonlinear system behavior, IVCIM dynamics is known to have coupling in between the two inner-loop stator current components (flux and torque). Such coupling affects the dynamic torque output of the motor. Decoupling of the stator currents are important for smoother torque response of IVCIM. Conventionally, additional feedforward decoupler is used to take care of the coupling that requires exact knowledge of the motor parameters and additional circuitry or signal processing. A method is proposed to design the regulating PI gains while minimizing coupling without any requirement of additional decoupler. The variation of the coupling terms for change in load torque is considered as the performance measure. The same ILMI based𝐻∞control design approach is used to obtain the controller gains. A comparison between the conventional feedforward decoupling and proposed decoupling scheme is presented through simulation and experimental results that establish the effectiveness of the proposed method riding over its simplicity.

Finally, since the PI controller can yield limited performance, a dynamic controller is designed for the IVCIM drive system. In the design process, iron-loss dynamics are incorporated into induction motor model to fetch benefit through better performance. A sequential design method is used for the controller design in which, first, the inner-loop controllers are designed. The designed inner-loop controllers is then used for designing the outer speed-loop controller. The proposed design employs ILMI based𝐻∞control design for dynamic output feedback controller that makes stator currents and speed response to be robust against disturbances. A comparison among proposed dynamic controller design, PI controller and compensator design is shown using simulation and experimental results demonstrate enhanced performance of the proposed controller and suitability for industrial purpose.