Scalar Controlled Induction Motor Drive Speed Estimation by Adaptive Sliding Window Search of the Power Signal

This work reports an improved reliability wide range rotor speed estimation algorithm for scalar controlled wound rotor induction machines using spectral search of the stator power signal. An adaptive sliding window speed estimation method is proposed that monitors the value of supply frequency to identify the optimum boundaries of the power signal narrowband maximised by a tracked speed dependent power harmonic, while adjusting to nominal slip variation with supply frequency change characteristic of scalar controlled machines. Analytical expressions are derived that allow direct correlation of the surveyed spectral window boundaries to supply frequency. Once identified, the optimal power spectral narrowband enables supply frequency independent speed evaluation. The proposed method is underpinned by a dichotomous search based frequency tracking technique enabling improvement in the attainable estimation rate. The presented technique’s performance and limitations are assessed in steady-state and transient operation real-time experiments on two different scalar controlled 7.5kW machines. The scheme is shown to provide competent real-time speed estimation in a wide operating speed range for lower dynamics transients and steady-state operation.