A power supply apparatus for an aerospace actuator includes motor drive electronics for actuation of a motor for control of the aerospace actuator, and an energy storage device. The motor drive electronics are configured to receive input electrical energy from an aircraft power grid, receive electrical energy from the energy storage device and provide electrical energy from the grid and/or from the energy storage device to the motor. The energy storage device is configured to store at least one of: excess electrical energy supplied to the motor drive electronics from the grid and regenerated electrical energy from the motor drive electronics. The energy storage device is configured to discharge the stored energy as electrical energy to the motor drive electronics when required.

A method and apparatus for operating a pump system comprising a rotary pump, a three-phase induction motor operably coupled to the rotary pump, and an AC drive operably coupled to the induction motor, the apparatus being configured to supply the induction motor with a three-phase AC voltage at multiple different angular velocities, monitor an output current of the AC drive generated in response to the supplied voltage at the multiple different angular velocities, determine an angular velocity of the supplied voltage at which at least one predetermined characteristic in the monitored output current is detected and determine a rotational velocity corresponding to the determined angular velocity as an estimate of the rotational velocity of the motor, wherein the pump system is operated on the basis of the determined estimate of the rotational velocity of the motor.

A method and apparatus for operating a pump system comprising a rotary pump, a three-phase induction motor operably coupled to the rotary pump, and an AC drive operably coupled to the induction motor, the apparatus being configured to supply the induction motor with a three-phase AC voltage at multiple different angular velocities, monitor an output current of the AC drive generated in response to the supplied voltage at the multiple different angular velocities, determine an angular velocity of the supplied voltage at which at least one predetermined characteristic in the monitored output current is detected and determine a rotational velocity corresponding to the determined angular velocity as an estimate of the rotational velocity of the motor, wherein the pump system is operated on the basis of the determined estimate of the rotational velocity of the motor.

Systems and methods for controlling an induction motor are provided. In particular, data indicative of an alternating current voltage signal associated with an induction motor can be received. The alternating current voltage signal can be applied to the induction motor through a switching element coupled between a power source and the induction motor. A zero cross voltage signal can then be generated based at least in part on the data indicative of the alternating current voltage signal. A phase delay period for at least one half cycle period of the zero cross signal can then be determined. Operation of the induction motor can then be controlled by providing one or more control signals to the switching element causing the switching element to conduct current for one or more gating periods. Each gating period can be determined based at least in part on the phase delay period.

A controller is provided which can interface with a variable frequency drive and a motor, the controller having (a) one or more voltage and current sensors which can interface with a power line linking the variable frequency drive and the motor; and (b) a signal interface module which can receive electrical signals associated with an operating condition of the motor from the one or more voltage and current sensors. The signal interface module can correlate the received electrical signals with a rotor position of the motor, and transmit signals corresponding to rotor position, to the variable frequency drive. The data provided by the controller if conveyed as a rotor position, may cause the variable frequency drive to change one or more of its operating parameters to maintain proper synchronization of the rotor and its associated stator currents. Alternatively, the controller may directly control variable frequency drive operating parameters.

A process for transiently increasing performance of an electric motor includes boosting a DC link voltage of a rectifier-fed variable frequency drive of the electric motor by using an energy storage system. The energy storage system delivers power directly to a DC link of the variable frequency drive. The energy storage system can be at least one of a battery bank, capacitor bank and a flywheel. Feedback from the DC link is delivered to a DC link controller.

A process for transiently increasing performance of an electric motor includes boosting a DC link voltage of a rectifier-fed variable frequency drive of the electric motor by using an energy storage system. The energy storage system delivers power directly to a DC link of the variable frequency drive. The energy storage system can be at least one of a battery bank, capacitor bank and a flywheel. Feedback from the DC link is delivered to a DC link controller.