Loss-minimizing flux level control of induction motor drives

The paper applies a dynamic space-vector model to loss-minimizing control in induction motor drives. The induction motor model, which takes hysteresis losses and eddy-current losses as well as the magnetic saturation into account, improves the flux estimation and rotor-flux-oriented control. Based on the corresponding steady-state loss function, a method is proposed for solving the loss-minimizing flux reference at each sampling period. A flux controller augmented with a voltage feedback algorithm is applied for improving the dynamic operation and field weakening. Both the steady-state and dynamic performance of the proposed method is investigated using laboratory experiments with a 2.2-kW induction motor drive. The method improves the accuracy of the loss minimization and torque production, it does not require excessive computational resources, and it shows fast convergence to the optimum flux level.