METHODS FOR CONFIGURING A MOTOR DRIVE AND APPARATUSES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME

Abstract

A method for configuring a motor drive for driving an induction motor. The method includes the motor comprising a rotor and a magnetic core including a magnetic inductance component: performing a plurality of N measurements of a voltage at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor; determining, based on the N voltage measurements, an estimate of the magnetic inductance component of the motor operating in a linear regime; determining, based on one of the N voltage measurements, an estimate of a time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in a linear regime; and determining an estimate of a rotor resistance of the motor based on the estimate of the magnetic inductance component of the motor and the rotor time constant.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a motor drive for driving an induction motor, the method comprising, the motor comprising a rotor and a magnetic core comprising a magnetic inductance component: performing a plurality of N measurements of a voltage at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor; determining, based on the N voltage measurements, an estimate of the magnetic inductance component of the motor operating in a linear regime; determining, based on one of the N voltage measurements, an estimate of a time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in a linear regime; and determining an estimate of a rotor resistance of the motor based on the estimates of the magnetic inductance component of the motor and the rotor time constant.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: configuring the motor drive based on the estimate of the rotor resistance of the motor.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior to each voltage measurement, injecting a respective value of Direct Current, DC, current in the motor at standstill for a respective time duration of magnetization of the magnetic core of the motor, wherein the respective value of DC current is one of a set of respective values of DC current having different levels.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: for each voltage measurement, determining an estimate of a magnetic flux in the magnetic inductance component of the motor based on the voltage measurement.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a plurality of N duplets of current and magnetic flux values, based on the N voltage measurements performed further to injecting respective values of DC current in the motor at standstill for respective time periods.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: determining one or more parameters of a magnetic saturation model of the magnetic inductance component of the motor based on the plurality of N duplets of current and magnetic flux values.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: determining a magnetic saturation curve corresponding to the magnetic saturation model that fits a plurality of N points respectively corresponding to the N duplets of current and magnetic flux values.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic saturation curve is determined using a linear regression algorithm.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the estimate of the time constant of the rotor is determined based on the one of the N voltage measurements using an exponential regression algorithm.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motor is an asynchronous induction motor.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the measurements of the voltage comprises a plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, S being a non-zero natural integer.

12. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising a processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and an interface for coupling to an induction motor to be driven by the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method according to claim 1.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, said computer program code comprising instructions to, when provided to a computer system and executed, cause said computer system to perform the method according to claim 1.

14. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present subject disclosure will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary motor drive in a drive-motor system to which the proposed methods may be applied according to one or more embodiments;

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary model of a standstill induction motor that may be used in one or more embodiments of the present subject disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scheme for configuring a motor drive according to one or more embodiments of the present subject disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary magnetic saturation model through four saturation model curves according to one or more embodiments;

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary fitting curve of a magnetic saturation model according to one or more embodiments;

[0034] FIG. 6a illustrates the magnetization of the main inductance L of an induction motor in which a DC current is injected according to one or more embodiments;

[0035] FIG. 6b illustrates the demagnetization of the main inductance L of the induction motor according to one or more embodiments;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary voltage-time curve that illustrates a demagnetization process of a motor magnetic core of an induction motor according to one or more embodiments;

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates an apparatus according to one or more embodiments; and

[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates performances of the proposed method.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0039] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the discussion of the described embodiments of the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Certain figures may be shown in an idealized fashion in order to aid understanding, such as when structures are shown having straight lines, sharp angles, and/or parallel planes or the like that under real-world conditions would likely be significantly less symmetric and orderly. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements, while similar reference numerals may, but do not necessarily, denote similar elements.

[0040] In addition, it should be apparent that the teaching herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure and/or function disclosed herein is merely representative. In particular, one skilled in the art will appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects and that several aspects can be combined in various ways.

[0041] The present disclosure is described below with reference to functions, engines, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of the methods, systems, and computer program according to one or more exemplary embodiments. Each described function, engine, block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any suitable combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions, engines, blocks of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations can be implemented by computer program instructions or software code, which may be stored or transmitted over a computer-readable medium, or loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the computer program instructions or software code which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create the means for implementing the functions described herein.

[0042] Embodiments of computer-readable media includes, but are not limited to, both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. As used herein, a computer storage media may be any physical media that can be accessed by a computer or a processor. In addition, the terms memory and computer storage media include any type of data storage device, such as, without limitation, a hard drive, a flash drive or other flash memory devices (e.g. memory keys, memory sticks, key drive, SSD drives), CD-ROM or other optical storage, DVD, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, memory chip(s), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only-Memory (ROM), Electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), smart cards, or any other suitable medium that can be used to carry or store program code in the form of instructions or data structures which can be read by a computer processor, or a combination thereof. Also, various forms of computer-readable media may transmit or carry instructions to a computer, including a router, gateway, server, or other transmission device, wired (coaxial cable, fiber, twisted pair, DSL cable) or wireless (infrared, radio, cellular, microwave). The instructions may comprise code from any computer-programming language, including, but not limited to, assembly, C, C++, Python, Visual Basic, SQL, PHP, and JAVA.

[0043] Unless specifically stated otherwise, it will be appreciated that throughout the following description discussions utilizing terms such as processing, computing, calculating, determining, or the like, refer to the action or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the registers or memories of the computing system into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices of the computing system.

[0044] As used herein, the terms comprise, include, have, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0045] Additionally, the word exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs.

[0046] In the present subject disclosure, the terms coupled and connected, along with their derivatives, may be indifferently used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other, or two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

[0047] It should be understood that embodiments of the present subject disclosure may be used for configuring an induction motor drive configured for driving an induction motor, in particular, although not limited to, an induction motor drive configured for driving an asynchronous induction motor.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary motor drive in a drive-motor system (1) to which the proposed methods may be applied according to one or more embodiments.

[0049] Shown on FIG. 1 is a drive-motor system (1) comprising a motor drive (2) and an induction motor (3) which are operatively coupled with each other through an interface (4).

[0050] The induction motor (3) comprises a rotor (3a) and a magnetic core (3b) which comprises a magnetic induction component (not shown on the figure), sometimes referred to as the main induction of the induction motor (3).

[0051] In some embodiments, a so-called motor tuning phase may be performed for determining configuration parameters of the motor drive (2) that corresponds to characteristics of the induction motor (3) so that the motor drive (2) be tuned for driving the induction motor (3).

[0052] Depending on the embodiment, the motor drive (2) may be implemented in software, as described above, or in hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or in the form of a combination of hardware and software, such as for example a software program intended to be loaded and executed on a component of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) type.

[0053] As the proposed methods aim at being used for configuring an induction motor drive coupled to an induction motor at standstill, a model of a standstill induction motor may advantageously be considered.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary model of a standstill induction motor that may be used in one or more embodiments of the present subject disclosure.

[0055] Shown on FIG. 2 is an exemplary inverse I-model of a standstill induction motor.

[0056] The standstill induction motor is modelled by a dipole circuit (3) to which a voltage Vs may be applied for starting the motor. The model includes a first block (3b) modelling a stator of the motor (3) which is serially coupled to a second block (3a) modelling a rotor of the motor (3). In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the first block (3b) comprises a stator resistor R.sub.s serially couple with a leakage inductance L.sub.f, and the second block (3a) comprises rotor resistor R.sub.r coupled in parallel with a main inductance L of the motor (3).

[0057] As shown on FIG. 2, a current i.sub.s that is injected in the motor (3) flows through the first block (3b), and then through the main inductance L of the motor (3). The current i.sub.s is summed with a current i.sub.r that flows through the rotor resistance R.sub.r, resulting in a current i=i.sub.s+i.sub.r (according to Kirchhoff's circuit law for currents flowing in and out a node of an electrical circuit) flowing through the main inductance L of the motor (3).

[0058] Assuming that the induction motor is at a standstill, the following sets of equations may be derived from the model of FIG. 2:

[0059] Equations along the d-axis:

[00001]$\begin{array}{c}{V}_{sd}=R_s{i}_{sd}+L_f\frac{d{i}_{sd}}{dt}+\frac{d{}_d}{dt}\\ 0=R_r{i}_{rd}+\frac{d{}_d}{dt}\\ {}_d=L\left(i_{sd}+i_{rd}\right)\end{array}$

[0060] where v.sub.sa is the projection on the d-axis of the input voltage v.sub.s, R.sub.s is the stator resistance, i.sub.sd is the projection on the d-axis of a current i.sub.s injected to the motor, L.sub.f is a leakage inductance of the stator, R.sub.r is the rotor resistance, i.sub.rd is the projection on the d-axis of a current i.sub.r flowing through the rotor resistance R.sub.r, and .sub.a is the projection on the d-axis of the magnetic flux generated by the main inductance L of the rotor through which a current i=i.sub.sd+i.sub.rd flows.

[0061] Equations along the q-axis:

[00002]$\begin{array}{c}{V}_{\mathrm{sq}}=R_s{i}_{\mathrm{sq}}+L_f\frac{d{i}_{\mathrm{sq}}}{dt}+\frac{d{}_q}{dt}\\ 0=R_r{i}_{\mathrm{rq}}+\frac{d{}_q}{dt}\\ {}_d=L\left(i_{\mathrm{sq}}+i_{\mathrm{rq}}\right)\end{array}$

[0062] where v.sub.sg is the projection on the d-axis of the input voltage v.sub.s, R.sub.s is the stator resistance, i.sub.sq is the projection on the d-axis of a current i.sub.s injected to the motor, L.sub.f is a leakage inductance of the stator, R.sub.r is the rotor resistance, i.sub.rq is the projection on the d-axis of a current i.sub.r flowing through the rotor resistance R.sub.r, and .sub.q is the projection on the d-axis of the magnetic flux generated by the main inductance L of the rotor through which a current i=i.sub.sq+i.sub.rq flows.

[0063] As can be seen above, the equations along the d-axis and along the q-axis represent two identical systems, one along the d-axis and the other along the q-axis, evolving with no link between them. Each of these two systems can therefore be modelled as an inverse-T induction motor model, such as the exemplary model illustrated by FIG. 2.

[0064] As a consequence, the proposed scheme may be described using this exemplary model as applied for one or the other axis, so that the equations for one or the other axis may indifferently be used, as the proposed scheme may be used with either set of equations. In the following, as an example, the above set of equations corresponding to orienting the frame along the d-axis will be used, so that the model used can be narrowed down to one inverse-circuit.

[0065] In the following, the proposed scheme is described based on the exemplary model of an induction motor at standstill of FIG. 2 assuming a frame oriented along the d-axis. However, a person skilled in the art would understand that, even though the present description refers to the inverse I-model of a standstill induction motor with a frame oriented along the d-axis as an example of model of a standstill induction motor that may be used in one or more embodiments, the inverse I-model of a standstill induction motor with a frame oriented along the q-axis may be used in place of the inverse I-model of a standstill induction motor with a frame oriented along the d-axis, which is given by way of an example only.

[0066] Furthermore, in the following, the proposed scheme is described based on the exemplary model of an induction motor at standstill of FIG. 2. However, a person skilled in the art would understand that, even though the present description refers to the inverse I-model of a standstill induction motor as an example of model of a standstill induction motor that may be used in one or more embodiments, any other suitable model of a standstill induction motor may be used in place of the inverse T-model of a standstill induction motor of FIG. 2, which is given by way of an example only.

[0067] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one or more embodiments, at least one configuration parameters for configuring the motor drive (2) for driving the induction motor (3) may be obtained through determining an estimate of the rotor resistance Ry of the induction motor (3).

[0068] As a consequence, the proposed scheme advantageously provides a method for determining an estimate of the rotor resistance R.sub.r of the induction motor (3) while keeping the motor at standstill based on voltage measurements which may be performed with a standard-grade measurement equipment.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a diagram that illustrates an exemplary scheme (10) for configuring a motor drive according to one or more embodiments of the present subject disclosure.

[0070] One considers a motor drive coupled to an induction motor, such as illustrated on FIG. 1 for which data related to configuration parameters usable for configuring the motor drive for driving the motor may be determined according to the proposed scheme.

[0071] The motor to which the motor drive is coupled may in some embodiments be modeled by a standstill induction motor model such as described herein in relation with the example of FIG. 2.

[0072] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the motor to be driven by the motor drive once configured may comprise a rotor and a magnetic core comprising a magnetic induction component.

[0073] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of N (e.g. N=10) measurements of a voltage at motor terminals of the motor at standstill may be performed (10) for respective measurement periods during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor from an initial magnetic flux of the magnetic core (during a period of time during which a demagnetization phenomenon of the magnetic core occurs) of the motor.

[0074] In some embodiments, one or more of the measurements of voltage may be performed during initial demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor, that is, during an initial portion of the period of time during which a demagnetization phenomenon of the magnetic core occurs further to magnetization of the magnetic core at the initial magnetic flux value.

[0075] In some embodiments, one or more of the measurements of voltage performed during their respective voltage measurement periods may comprise a plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, S being a non-zero natural integer.

[0076] For example, in some embodiments, for one or more of the voltage measurements, the S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is may be obtained through voltage measurement sampling with a sampling interval (t). In such embodiments, the voltage at the motor's terminals may be measured during a voltage measurement period which is substantially equal to the product of the number of voltages samples and the sampling interval: S.Math.t.

[0077] In some embodiments, prior to the j.sup.th voltage measurement (1jN), a respective value of Direct Current, DC, current i.sub.j may be injected in the motor at standstill for a respective time duration t.sub.j of magnetization (a magnetization phase) of the magnetic core of the motor. Preferably, the respective value of DC current i.sub.j may be one of a set of respective values of DC current having different levels. For example, in order to perform the N voltage measurements, N DC current injections (i.sub.j).sub.1jN may be performed, with different current levels (i.sub.j1i.sub.j2 for 1j1j2N).

[0078] In one or more embodiments, the N voltage measurements may be used to determine (12) an estimate of the magnetic inductance (L.sub.0) of the motor (the main inductance of the motor) operating in linear phase (linear regime) (the magnetic inductance of the motor during a linear operating phase of the motor).

[0079] In one or more embodiments, one of the N voltage measurements may also be used to determine (13) an estimate of a rotor time constant (T.sub.0) of the rotor of the motor operating in linear phase (linear regime) (the time constant of the rotor of the motor during a linear operating phase of the motor).

[0080] In one or more embodiments, an estimate of a rotor resistance (R.sub.r) of the motor may be determined (14) based on the estimate of the magnetic induction (L.sub.0) of the motor and the rotor time constant (T.sub.0).

[0081] For example, in some embodiments, the estimate of the rotor resistance (R.sub.r) of the motor may be determined based on a ratio of the estimated magnetic induction (L.sub.0) of the motor by the estimated rotor time constant (T.sub.0).

[0082] In one or more embodiments, the motor drive may be configured for driving the induction motor based on the estimate of the rotor resistance (R.sub.r) of the motor.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, magnetic saturation of the magnetic core of the motor to be driven further to injecting to the motor a DC current may be taken into account in the proposed scheme through the standstill induction motor model which has been chosen as model of the induction motor to be driven. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the main inductance L in the inverse- model circuit shown on FIG. 2 may experience magnetic saturation, so that the magnetic flux of the magnetic core generated by injecting a DC current to the motor may increase, as the value of the injected current is increased, up to a certain ceiling value .sub. which corresponds to a saturation magnetic flux value. That is, the relation between the current i inputted to the motor and the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic core of the motor is not linear for values beyond a certain injected current value, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0084] In one or more embodiments, a magnetic saturation model may therefore advantageously be considered in order to distinguish between the induction motor operating in linear regime (no magnetic saturation of the magnetic core), and the induction motor operating in saturation regime (occurrence of magnetic saturation of the magnetic core), for example to capture parameters or features of the motor operating in linear phase (linear regime), versus parameters or features of the motor operating in magnetic saturation phase (saturation regime). It is indeed advantageous to configure the drive so that the motor is driven with one or more current values which do not trigger magnetic saturation of the magnetic core of the motor.

[0085] In some embodiments, a magnetic core magnetization model that takes into account magnetic saturation of the core (sometimes referred herein to as a magnetic saturation model), which defines the relation between the current injected to the induction motor and the flux value in the main inductance of the induction motor may be considered to estimate parameters of the induction motor that characterize the motor operating in linear phase (linear regime) (versus the motor operating in magnetic saturation phase (saturation regime)).

[0086] For example, in some embodiments, the following magnetic saturation model i=f() of an induction motor may be used for characterizing the motor operating in linear phase (linear regime):

[00003]$i=\frac{}{L_0}.Math.\frac{1-\frac{}{{}_{}}}{1-{\left(\frac{}{{}_{}}\right)}^2}$

[0087] where .sub. designates the maximal magnetic flux that can be induced in the core (that may be seen as corresponding to the magnetic saturation flux generated by the main inductance assuming an infinite current injected in the motor), L.sub.0 designates the linear inductance before saturation (that may be seen as corresponding to the value of the main inductance of the motor operating in linear phase (linear regime) (versus the motor operating in magnetic saturation phase (saturation regime))), and designates a unitless shape factor that impacts the flux value at which the magnetization switches from the linear regime to the saturated regime. The transition flux value may be equal to .sub.(<1).

[0088] The magnetic saturation model may therefore in some embodiments be a parametric model with three parameters (e.g., in the exemplary case of the above model: .sub., L.sub.0, and ).

[0089] FIG. 4 illustrates the magnetic saturation model through four saturation model curves respectively corresponding to four values of the parameter of the saturation model (the other two parameters having fixed values: .sub.=1.3 Wb and L.sub.0=250 mH.

[0090] In the following, the proposed scheme is described based on the exemplary parametric magnetic saturation model of an induction motor at standstill of FIG. 4 governed by the three parameters .sub., L.sub.0, and . However, a person skilled in the art would understand that, even though the present description refers to the parameters of this exemplary magnetic saturation model, any other suitable magnetic saturation model of an induction motor, such as, for example, may be used in place of the parametric magnetic saturation model of an induction motor at standstill of FIG. 4, which is given by way of an example only.

[0091] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of N voltage measurements at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor may be used to determine an estimate of the parameters of the magnetic saturation model chosen for implementing the proposed scheme.

[0092] In one or more embodiments, for each of one or more of the plurality of N voltage measurements, a plurality of voltage data points may be measured during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor, further to performing a DC injection, that is, injecting a DC current in the motor at standstill for magnetizing the magnetic core to a so-called initial magnetic flux level. In some embodiments, a certain current may be injected for a given period of time in order to magnetize the inner core of the motor and, afterward, the circuit may be opened, and the voltage measurement performed on the open circuit. The induced voltage during demagnetization may be analyzed in order to obtain an estimate of the magnetic flux resulting from the DC injection. The determined estimate of the initial magnetic flux may be used in some embodiments for generating, for each of the one or more of the plurality of N voltage measurements, a duplet (i, ), where i is the DC current that was injected in the motor for magnetizing the magnetic core, and is the magnetic flux of the core resulting from the magnetization thereof.

[0093] For example, in embodiments in which the above described magnetic saturation model is used, a plurality of N voltage measurements at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor may be used to determine an estimate of the three parameters of this magnetic saturation model, as such model is governed by the three parameters .sub., L.sub.0, and .

[0094] In one or more embodiments, the number N of voltage measurements performed for determining estimates of the parameters of the chosen magnetic saturation model may be chosen greater or equal to the number of magnetic saturation model parameters to be estimated.

[0095] In one or more embodiments, based on that the used magnetic saturation model is governed by three parameters, N may be chosen greater or equal to three (N3).

[0096] In some embodiments, each of the voltage measurements is performed during a demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor, further to injecting a current in the motor at standstill for magnetizing the magnetic core.

[0097] For example, each of the N voltage measurements (v.sub.sj).sub.1jN may be preceded by a DC current injection i, of respective level, so that N duplets (i.sub.j,v.sub.sj).sub.1jN of injected DC current value and measured voltage value may be determined.

[0098] In one or more embodiments, each voltage measurement v.sub.sj may further be used to determine a corresponding magnetic flux value .sub.j of magnetic flux in the main inductance of the motor, so that N magnetic flux values (.sub.j).sub.1jN may be determined based on the N voltage measurements (v.sub.sj).sub.1jN.

[0099] In some embodiments, the N magnetic flux values ((.sub.j).sub.1jN may be used to determining a plurality of N duplets (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN of injected DC current and magnetic flux values, based on the N voltage measurements (v.sub.sj).sub.1jN performed further to injecting respective values i, of DC current in the motor at standstill for respective time periods.

[0100] In some embodiments, the plurality of N duplets (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1iN of injected DC current and magnetic flux values may be used as N injection points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN that may advantageously be used to determine a best fitting saturation curve of the chosen magnetic saturation model.

[0101] Depending on the embodiment, any suitable fitting method may be used to fit the magnetic saturation model to the experimental data (injection points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN). For example, if more than N (e.g. N=3) injection points are used to fit a magnetic saturation model governed by N parameters, a least-square method may be applied to fit the model on the experimental data.

[0102] In some embodiments, a linear regression algorithm may be applied to fit the magnetic saturation model on the N injection points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN in order to determine respective estimates of the parameters corresponding to the linear regime of the saturation model.

[0103] In one or more embodiments, the equation i=f() defining the magnetic saturation model may be reformulated in a linear way in order to apply a linear regression algorithm on the measurement data (N injection points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN).

[0104] For example, the equation

[00004]$i=\frac{}{L_0}.Math.\frac{1-\frac{}{{}_{}}}{1-{\left(\frac{}{{}_{}}\right)}^2}$

[0105] may be reformulated as follows:

[00005]$i=\frac{1}{L_0}-\frac{}{L_0{}_{}}{}^2+\frac{1}{{}_{}^2}i{}^2$

[0106] So that the three coefficients 1/L.sub.0, Y/L.sub.0.sub., 1/.sub..sup.2 and may be estimated in order to determine an estimate of three parameters .sub., L.sub.0, and .

[0107] In embodiments where a linear regression algorithm is used on the N injection points, the following matrices A and B may be computed for performing the linear regression:

[00006]$A=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}{}_j^2& {}_j^3& i_j{}_j^3\\ {}_j^3& {}_j^4& i_j{}_j^4\\ i_j{}_j^3& i_j{}_j^4& i_j^2{}_j^4\end{array}\right]$$B=\left[\begin{array}{c}{i}_j{}_j^3\\ i_j{}_j^3\\ i_j^2{}_j^2\end{array}\right]$

and

[0108] where the respective matrix sizes of A and B are determined by 1jN.

[0109] In some embodiments, the matrix product A.sup.1. B of the inverse of matrix A by matrix B may be determined in order to obtain an estimate the three coefficient 1/L.sub.0, Y/L.sub.0.sub., and 1/.sub. as:

[00007]$A^{-1}.Math.B=\left[\begin{array}{c}\frac{1}{L_0}\\ -\frac{}{L_0{}_{}}\\ \frac{1}{{}_{}^2}\end{array}\right]$

[0110] In one or more embodiments, in order to calculate each of the three elements of the vector resulting from the matrix product A.sup.1.Math.B, the matrix determinant of matrix A may be computed, based on which the following three matrix determinants may be computed:

[00008]$.Math.A.Math.=.Math.\begin{array}{ccc}{}_j^2& {}_j^3& i_j{}_j^3\\ {}_j^3& {}_j^4& i_j{}_j^4\\ i_j{}_j^3& i_j{}_j^4& i_j^2{}_j^4\end{array}.Math.$$\frac{1}{L_0}=\frac{1}{.Math.A.Math.}.Math.\begin{array}{ccc}{i}_j{}_j& {}_j^3& i_j{}_j^3\\ i_j{}_j^2& {}_j^4& i_j{}_j^4\\ i_j^2{}_j^2& i_j{}_j^4& i_j^2{}_j^4\end{array}.Math.$$-\frac{}{L_0{}_{}}=\frac{1}{.Math.A.Math.}.Math.\begin{array}{ccc}{}_j^2& i_j{}_j& i_j{}_j^3\\ {}_j^3& i_j{}_j^2& i_j{}_j^4\\ i_j{}_j^3& i_j^2{}_j^2& i_j^2{}_j^4\end{array}.Math.$$\frac{1}{{}_{}^2}=\frac{1}{.Math.A.Math.}.Math.\begin{array}{ccc}{}_j^2& {}_j^3& i_j{}_j\\ {}_j^3& {}_j^4& i_j{}_j^4\\ i_j{}_j^3& i_j{}_j^4& i_j^2{}_j^2\end{array}.Math.$

[0111] Based on the above matrix determinants, respective estimates of the magnetic saturation model parameters L.sub.0, .sub., and may be calculated.

[0112] In particular, in some embodiments, an estimate of the magnetic inductance component L.sub.0 of the motor operating in linear regime may be determined based on one or more of the above matrix determinants, the elements of which may have been determined based on the N voltage measurements performed on the motor at standstill.

[0113] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary fitting curve of a magnetic saturation model calculated based on magnetic saturation model parameters estimated based on a plurality of six injection points respectively corresponding to six current-flux duplets (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1j6.

[0114] Shown on FIG. 5 are the injection points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1j6, the magnetization curve of the magnetic saturation model, and the estimated magnetization curve based on which the parameters L.sub.0, .sub., and of the model can be calculated. In the illustrated example of FIG. 5, the theoretical values of the magnetic saturation model parameters are: L.sub.0=250 mH, .sub.=1.3 Wb, and =0.3, and the values of the estimated using the proposed saturation model fit method are: L.sub.0=215 mH, .sub.=1.3 Wb, and =0.5.

[0115] Therefore, in one or more embodiments, an estimate of one or more parameters of the magnetic saturation model of the magnetic inductance of the motor may be determined based on the plurality of N duplets of current and magnetic flux values (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN.

[0116] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of N respective Direct Current, DC, current injections in the motor at standstill may be performed prior to performing the plurality of N respective voltage measurements, for magnetization of the magnetic core of the motor before opening the electrical circuit of the motor and performing the voltage measurement on the open circuit (at the motor's terminals) during demagnetization of the magnetic core.

[0117] For example, in some embodiments, each of the N voltage measurements at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor may be performed following a DC current injection of a respective value of DC current in the motor at standstill performed for a respective DC injection time duration, so that the magnetic core of the motor may be magnetized to an initial magnetic flux when the N voltage measurements is performed.

[0118] In some embodiments, N DC current injections may be performed at respective levels (i.sub.j).sub.1jN for a respective time period (t.sub.j).sub.1jN so that the magnetic core of the motor may be magnetized at a certain level, as illustrated by FIG. 6a.

[0119] FIG. 6a shows the injection of a DC current I.sub.inj in an induction motor (modeled by the exemplary inverse- model of the induction motor at standstill illustrated by FIG. 2) in order to generate magnetization of the main inductance L of the motor, that is, to generate an initial magnetic flux in the main inductance L of the motor. During the DC current injection, the main inductance L of the motor becomes magnetized at a magnetic flux level which depends on one or more of the level of the injected DC current and the duration of the DC current injection.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6a, during injection of the DC current I.sub.inj in the motor, a current is may flow in the serially coupled stator resistance R.sub.s and leakage inductance L.sub.f block (3b in FIG. 2) and the main inductance L of the motor, and no current may flow in the rotor resistance R, of the motor. When imposing a constant voltage on the motor's terminals, the input current may eventually stabilize in the main inductance L after a certain time period.

[0121] In some embodiments, different levels of DC current (i.sub.j).sub.1jN may be injected in the motor so that respective different levels of magnetic flux (.sub.i).sub.1jN may be generated at the main inductance L (magnetic core) of the motor.

[0122] In one or more embodiments, once a DC current injection is stopped, the electrical circuit of the motor may be opened at the positive and negative poles, and the voltage v.sub.mneas at the motor terminals corresponding to the poles of the motor at standstill may be measured.

[0123] FIG. 6b shows the demagnetization of the main inductance L of the motor (modeled by the exemplary inverse-T model of the induction motor at standstill illustrated by FIG. 2) once the DC current I.sub.inj is no longer injected and the circuit of the motor is opened.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6b, once the DC current I.sub.inj is no longer injected in the motor and the circuit is opened, the current i.sub.s may no longer flow in the serially coupled stator resistance R.sub.s and leakage inductance L.sub.f block (3b in FIG. 2) and the main inductance L of the motor, and a current i.sub.r (induced by the magnetized magnetic core of the motor) may instead flow in the parallel coupled rotor resistance R.sub.r and main inductance L of the motor. Once the circuit is opened, a demagnetization process starts between the main inductance L and the rotor resistance R.sub.r from the initial magnetic flux (which corresponds to the magnetic flux level that was reached by magnetization of the core, e.g. through a prior DC injection). At this point, the measured voltage v.sub.mneas corresponds to the voltage across the main inductance L because no current is flowing through the stator resistance R.sub.s and the leakage inductance L.sub.f:

[00009]$V_{meas}\left(t\right)=\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)$

[0125] A voltage measurement v.sub.meas of the voltage at the terminals of the motor may therefore advantageously reflect the magnetic flux of the main inductance L of the motor.

[0126] During the demagnetization process, the magnetic flux in the motor magnetic core may be governed by the following differential equation:

[00010]$0=R_r\frac{\left(t\right)}{L_0}\frac{1-\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}}{1-{\left(\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}\right)}^2}+\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)$

[0127] FIG. 7 shows a voltage-time curve that illustrates a demagnetization process of a motor magnetic core. The exemplary curve of FIG. 7 showing the evolution of the measured voltage over time during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor.

[0128] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary demagnetization curve for the following parameters of the exemplary induction motor model and exemplary magnetic saturation model discussed herein: =0.3, .sub.=1.3 Wb, L.sub.0=250 mH, R.sub.r=500 m, and for an initial magnetic flux value of (0)=1.17 Wb.

[0129] As shown by FIG. 7, a magnetic saturation effect of the magnetic core of the motor may be reflected in the beginning of the demagnetization process of the core as the magnetic core may have reached its saturation level during the magnetization process. As a consequence, the measured voltage may decrease linearly over time from an initial value, whereas it would exponentially decrease over time without saturation of the magnetic core, as illustrated by FIG. 7.

[0130] As shown on FIG. 7, the saturation effect is reflected on the measured voltage for an initial period of time of approximately half a second (t.sub.sat0.5 s), whereas the measured voltage may accurately reflect the demagnetization process without saturation afterwards (from t.sub.sat to the end of the demagnetization of the core). That is, assuming that the demagnetization process lasts a given demagnetization duration (t.sub.Demag being equal to approximately 2 seconds in the example illustrated by FIG. 7), the saturation effect occurring during magnetization of the magnetic core may be reflected in the voltage measurement part performed the early part of the demagnetization duration (t.sub.Demag) (from t=0 to t=t.sub.sat in the example of FIG. 7), while it would no longer be present in a voltage measurement part performed for the rest of the demagnetization process (from t.sub.sat to the end of t.sub.Demag).

[0131] Various methods may be used to estimate the value of the magnetic flux of the core of the motor once magnetized further to a DC current injection which corresponds to each of one or more of the plurality of N voltage measurements. For example, in one or more embodiments, an integration analysis voltage measurement processing method may be used to integrate the value(s) of the measured voltage over the time period during which the corresponding voltage measurement is performed, which may result in a first magnetic flux estimate component. As another example, an exponential regression analysis voltage measurement processing method may be used to fit an exponential decreasing curve on the voltage measurement.

[0132] In one or more embodiments, another method, which can be viewed as hybrid as it uses both the integration method and the exponential regression analysis method, may be used, which advantageously exploits the fact that the magnetic saturation of the core is reflected in the voltage measurement only for an early portion of the demagnetization process, while the voltage decreases according to an exponential decay curve reflecting demagnetization after the end of the early portion and until the end of the demagnetization process. In such embodiments, two successive time periods of the demagnetization process may therefore be distinguished with respect to presence of the magnetic saturation effect reflected in the voltage measurement: a first, initial, time period at the beginning of demagnetization during which it can be considered that the measured voltage is impacted by the magnetic saturation of the core, and a second, subsequent, time period following the first time period until the end of demagnetization during which it can be considered that the measured voltage is no longer impacted by the magnetic saturation of the core. In the following, the first time period may be referred to as first time period showing saturation, while the second time period may be referred to as second time period without saturation.

[0133] In one or more embodiments, instead of using an integration method until the end of the demagnetization process, that is, until the end of the demagnetization duration (t.sub.Demag), which would require performing the voltage measurement by collecting voltage measurement data points for the entire demagnetization duration (t.sub.Demag) in order to estimate the initial magnetic flux of the magnetic core by integrating the value of the measured induced voltage until the end of the demagnetization process (e.g. integrating the collected voltage data points over the entire demagnetization duration (t.sub.Demag)), the integration method may be used only during the first time period showing saturation.

[0134] In some embodiments, the integration method may be used on a voltage measurement that is only performed during a voltage measurement period during initial demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor. The voltage measurement period during which the voltage measurement is performed may be preconfigured to correspond to the specific first time period showing saturation of the motor on which the voltage measurement is performed. As a consequence, the voltage measurement may advantageously not be performed until the end of the demagnetization process, but instead only during a voltage measurement period which corresponds to an initial portion of the demagnetization process, and is shorter than the entire demagnetization process.

[0135] In some embodiments, the voltage measurement may be configured to be started during an initial phase of the demagnetization process (at an early stage of demagnetization), and to end before the end of the demagnetization process. The voltage measurement may therefore result in voltage measurement data points covering only an initial portion of the demagnetization process (at an early stage of demagnetization).

[0136] As a consequence, the integration method applied on the voltage measurement (data points) may result in integrating the measured induced voltage over a period of time spanning an initial time at which the voltage measurement starts to the end of the voltage measurement period, instead of integrating the measured voltage until the end of demagnetization.

[0137] Depending on the embodiments, the voltage at the motor's terminals may or not be measured until the end of the demagnetization process, so that voltage measurement data points that may have been acquired after the end of the voltage measurement period may be disregarded for purposes of applying the integration method. As a consequence, only the voltage measurement data points acquired during the voltage measurement period may be used for purposes of applying the integration method.

[0138] Referring back to FIG. 7, using only voltage measurement data points acquired during a voltage measurement period configured during initial demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor (at an early stage of the demagnetization process of the core) for applying the integration method is advantageous in that it avoids applying such integration method to voltage values which, because the reflect a latter part until the end of the demagnetization of the core, may be low and subject to unprecise measurements depending on the measurement equipment used for performing the voltage measurement (for example in cases where a standard-grade voltage measurement equipment with limited accuracy performances for low voltage values is used). Indeed, performing the voltage measurement with limited accuracy would generate errors when applying the integration method which may build up during the magnetic decaying, with a resulting error which is proportional to the integration duration. An advantage of the proposed scheme is therefore to avoid using the integration method over an integration duration which is too long in that it uses measured data points that correspond to the early stage of the demagnetization and therefore may not suffer from measurement errors that would be detrimental to the accuracy of the estimate obtained with the integration method. By using the integration method only on voltage measurement data points captured during an initial part (early stage) of the demagnetization process, the captured values can be considered high enough so that measurement errors are avoided, or at least reduced, even in cases of using a standard-grade measurement equipment.

[0139] In one or more embodiments, because the integration method is used only on the voltage measurement data points acquired during a voltage measurement period which is shorter than the entire demagnetization process duration, it may result in a magnetic flux estimate which is a component of the magnetic flux that would be estimated if the integration method had been applied over the entire demagnetization process duration. As a consequence, a first magnetic flux estimate component may be determined based on the voltage measurement, for example by using the integration method applied to voltage measurement data points acquired during the voltage measurement period.

[0140] In some embodiments, the integration method may be used for integrating the voltage measurement over the voltage measurement period, in order to integrate the value of the measured voltage induced by the demagnetization until the end of the voltage measurement period, which advantageously falls before the end of the demagnetization process.

[0141] In some embodiments, the measurement of the voltage for the voltage measurement period for each of one or more of the plurality of N voltage measurements may comprise a plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, S being a non-zero natural integer, and one or more of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is may be integrated in order to obtain the first magnetic flux estimate component.

[0142] For example, in embodiments where the S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is are obtained through measurement sampling with a sampling interval (t), the first magnetic flux estimate component may be determined based on a combination of the sampling interval with a combination of one or more of the S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, such as, for example, the combination t.Math..sub.i=1.sup.Sv.sub.i.

[0143] According to the present subject disclosure, a second method, other than the integration method, may be used for determining the portion of the initial magnetic flux which is not accounted for by integrating the induced voltage only on a portion of the demagnetization process duration. In one or more embodiments, a regression method (e.g. an exponential regression method) may be used for that purpose. Using an exponential regression method is advantageous in the exemplary context of the present subject disclosure focusing on the demagnetization process of the magnetic core of an induction motor in that such demagnetization process typically follows an exponential decaying profile, such as the one illustrated by FIG. 7.

[0144] As discussed above, during the demagnetization process, the magnetic flux in the motor magnetic core may be governed by the following differential equation:

[00011]$0=R_r\frac{\left(t\right)}{L_0}\frac{1-\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}}{1-{\left(\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}\right)}^2}+\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)$

[0145] In some embodiments, small values of magnetic flux ((t)<<.sub.) may be considered in order to approximate the magnetization as linear, thereby leading to the following simplified formulation of the above differential equation:

[00012]$0=R_r\frac{\left(t\right)}{L_0}+\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)$$\mathrm{as}1-\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}1\mathrm{and}1-{\left(\frac{\left(t\right)}{{}_{}}\right)}^{2}1.$

[0146] The following function .sub.a(t) is a solution to the above simplified equation:

[00013]${}_a\left(t\right)={}_a\left(t^{}\right)e^{-\frac{t-t}{{}_0}}$

[0147] where

[00014]${}_0=\frac{L_0}{R_r}$

is the rotor time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in linear regime. The magnetic flux of the magnetic core of an injection motor may therefore decrease exponentially during demagnetization, the exponential decrease being governed by a time constant t.sub.0 that corresponds to the rotor time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in linear regime.

[0148] Therefore, in some embodiments, N DC voltage measurements at the motor's terminals during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor (which may in some embodiments respectively correspond to N DC current injections) can be advantageously used for two different purposes: First, as discussed above, an estimate of the magnetic induction of the motor operating in linear phase L.sub.0 may be determined based on the N voltage measurements, for example through a saturation model fit method exploiting N data points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN determined based on the N voltage measurements: by realizing DC current injections at different levels, each injection may advantageously provide, after integrating

[00015]$V_{meas}\left(t\right)=\frac{d}{\mathrm{dt}}\left(t\right),$

the value of the flux in the main inductance L.

[0149] For example, in one or more embodiments, one or more of the N measured voltages (at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor) may be integrated over time to determine respective estimates (.sub.j) of the magnetic flux in the magnetic core of the motor (e.g. the main inductance L of FIG. 2):

[00016]${}_j=V_{meas,j}\left(t\right)dt=\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)\mathrm{dt}$

[0150] where v.sub.mneas,j(t) is a j-th voltage measured at terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor, which may be following a j-th DC current injection i.sub.j to the motor for magnetizing the magnetic core.

[0151] In some embodiments, a plurality of N data points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN may be determined further to determining a j-th estimated magnetic flux .sub.j that corresponds to a j-th DC current injection i.sub.j, where the j-th magnetic flux in the magnetic core is estimated based on a j-th voltage measured at terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor following the j-th DC current injection i.sub.j to the motor for magnetizing the magnetic core.

[0152] In some embodiments, the plurality of N data points (i.sub.j, .sub.j).sub.1jN may be used to apply a fitting algorithm of a magnetic saturation model, such as for example the linear regression described above for the above-mentioned exemplary magnetic saturation model, in order to estimate a set of one or more of the parameters of the magnetic saturation model that includes an estimate of the magnetic inductance (L.sub.0) of the motor operating in linear regime.

[0153] In one or more embodiments where the hybrid method for determining an estimate of the magnetic flux of the magnetic core further to magnetization through a DC current injection is used, using the exponential regression method may involve fitting an exponential decreasing curve on the voltage measurement data points acquired during the voltage measurement period.

[0154] A second magnetic flux estimate component can then advantageously be deduced mathematically from the resulting fitted parameters.

[0155] Use of the exponential regression method is advantageous because this method is immune from measurement errors as it forces the voltage curve to fit a perfect exponential curve. However, the exponential regression method assumes magnetic linearity and tends to perform badly under magnetic saturation.

[0156] The exponential regression method is therefore a good complement to the integration method as it performs well for voltage measurement values for which the integration method does not (as the integration method is sensitive to measurement errors potentially made when measuring small voltage values at the end of the demagnetization process), and vice versa (as the exponential regression method leads to errors during the initial (early) phase of demagnetization where magnetic saturation of the magnetic core is present).

[0157] Therefore, in some embodiments, the integration method may be used for determining a first magnetic flux estimate component based on a voltage measurement performed only on a portion of the demagnetization process of the magnetic core of an induction motor, and the exponential regression method may be used for determining a second magnetic flux estimate component which, combined with the first magnetic flux estimate component, will provide an estimate of the magnetic flux of the magnetic core at the start of demagnetization.

[0158] In one or more embodiments, an estimate of the rotor time constant T.sub.0 of the rotor of the motor operating in linear regime may be determined based on one of the N voltage measurements, for purpose of applying the exponential regression method:

[0159] In one or more embodiments, an exponential regression may be used to estimate a value of a time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in linear regime based on one of the N voltage measurements.

[0160] Referring back to FIG. 6b, the voltage v.sub.meas measured at the motor's terminals during demagnetization of the magnetic core (magnetic inductance component L on FIG. 6b) of the motor may reflect such demagnetization through the following exponential decrease over time:

[00017]$V_{meas}\left(t\right)=V_0{e}^{-\frac{t}{{}_0}}$

[0161] where v.sub.0 is a measured voltage value at t=0, and t.sub.0 is the time constant of the rotor of the motor.

[0162] As shown on FIG. 7, the magnetic core of the motor may experience magnetic saturation for initial measurements of the voltage (in the example of the figure, for a duration of measurement inferior to 0.3 second). Past an initial duration of measurement (0tt.sub.sat_threshold), the voltage measurement performed corresponds to a linear regime of the motor (that is, without magnetic saturation of the magnetic core).

[0163] Therefore, in some embodiments, one or more voltage measurements (at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor) may advantageously be performed for respective time measurement durations. In some embodiments, the time measurement duration may be predefined for one or more of the voltage measurements, for example based on a theoretical value of the rotor time constant of the motor. For example, the time measurement duration may be predefined for one or more of the voltage measurements as a multiple (e.g. 8) of theoretical value of the rotor time constant of the motor.

[0164] In one or more embodiments, one or more of the N voltage measurements (at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor) may be used for determining an estimate of the rotor time constant T.sub.0.

[0165] The time duration of one or more of the N voltage measurements may be determined so that the voltage measurement can be used for both the determination of an estimate of the rotor time constant during demagnetization of the core and the determination of an estimate of the magnetic flux (.sub.j) in the magnetic core of the motor during demagnetization of the core as described above (e.g. through integration of the measured voltage over the time duration).

[0166] In one or more embodiments, for each of one or more of the plurality of N voltage measurements, the measurement of the voltage for the voltage measurement period may generate a plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, S being a non-zero natural integer. In some embodiments, the S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is are obtained through measurement sampling with a sampling interval (t). Therefore, in some embodiments, S duplets of voltage measurement data point v.sub.i and acquisition time t; of the corresponding voltage measurement data point v.sub.i within the voltage measurement period may be generated through the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is comprised in the voltage measurement of the voltage at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during the (initial) part of demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor. In some embodiments, the voltage measurement period may correspond to the time interval t.sub.s-t.sub.1. In some embodiments, the plurality of S data points (t.sub.i, v.sub.i).sub.1is may be determined based on the voltage measurement.

[0167] In some embodiments, in order to estimate the value of the rotor time constant during linear magnetization, an exponential regression may be applied, preferably once the voltage is linear (during the linear regime of the motor) as the exponential regression may use a linear regression algorithm applied on the log (v.sub.i) data.

[0168] In order to use an exponential regression on a data set, in some embodiments, the logarithm of one or more of the data of the data set, e.g. one or more of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is may be determined, in order to apply a linear regression algorithm.

[0169] In some embodiments, one may then consider a set of S time-voltage data points to be exponentially fitted: (t.sub.i, v.sub.i).sub.1is, with an exponential relation between the time duration t; and the voltage variable v.sub.i, such as for example:

[00018]$v_i=V_0{e}^{-\frac{t_i}{{}_0}}$

[0170] where v.sub.0 is an initial voltage measurement value (at t=0), and T.sub.0 is a time constant.

[0171] Taking the logarithm of v.sub.i leads to:

[00019]$\log \left(v_i\right)=\log \left(V_0\right)-\frac{t_i}{{}_0}$

[0172] In some embodiments, a linear regression may therefore be applied to the log data set (t.sub.i, log v.sub.i).sub.1iN, for example using the following equations:

[00020]$\log {\stackrel{}{V}}_0=\frac{.Math.t_i.Math.t_i\log v_i-.Math.t_i^2.Math.\log v_i}{{\left(.Math.t_i\right)}^2-N.Math.t_i^2}$$\mathrm{and}$$-\frac{1}{{\stackrel{}{}}_0}=\frac{.Math.t_i.Math.\log v_i-N.Math.t_i\log v_i}{{\left(.Math.t_i\right)}^2-N.Math.t_i^2}$

[0173] Therefore, in some embodiments, an estimate to of the rotor time constant T.sub.0 may be determined based on the following:

[00021]${\stackrel{}{}}_0=-\frac{{\left(.Math.t_i\right)}^2-N.Math.t_i^2}{.Math.t_i.Math.\log v_i-N.Math.t_i\log v_i}$

[0174] The dominance of the demagnetization process phase where the inner core is under linear magnetization (which, as shown on FIG. 7, follows a short magnetic saturation phase of the core) over such magnetic saturation phase will minimize the impact of having some data points which may be chosen from slightly before the full entry in the magnetic linear zone, which advantageously confers a stronger robustness to the estimate of the rotor time constant according to embodiments of the proposed scheme.

[0175] In one or more embodiments in which the above-described hybrid method for estimating the magnetic flux of the core is used, the second magnetic flux estimate component may be determined based on the estimate {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0 of the rotor time constant by combining such estimate with c selected in the neighborhood of the last voltage measurement point (v.sub.s). The one or more voltage measurement data points of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is may be selected based on that they correspond to a switching time within the demagnetization process period from use of the integration method to use of the exponential regression method (e.g. to a transition time between the first time period showing saturation and the second time period without saturation).

[0176] For example, in some embodiments, the second magnetic flux estimate component may be determined by combining the estimate {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0 of the rotor time constant with the last voltage measurement point (v.sub.s), e.g. based on the product {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0.Math.v.sub.s, as the last voltage measurement point (v.sub.s) may in some embodiments correspond to a switching time within the demagnetization process period from use of the integration method to use of the exponential regression method (e.g. to a transition time between the first time period showing saturation and the second time period without saturation).

[0177] Therefore, in one or more embodiments, a method switching time (t.sub.st) may be considered, which corresponds to a switching time within the demagnetization process period from use of the integration method to use of the exponential regression method (e.g. to a transition time between the first time period showing saturation in which the integration is applied, and the second time period without saturation in which the exponential regression is applied). In some embodiments, the method switching time (t.sub.st) may correspond to St, where S is the number of voltage measurement data points acquired during the voltage measurement period, and t is the sampling period for acquisition of the voltage measurement data points).

[0178] In one or more embodiments, the method switching time (t.sub.st) may be a parameter of the proposed method configured (determined) based on a primary estimate of the rotor time constant. Such primary estimate of the rotor time constant of the induction motor may be provided by the manufacturer of the motor in the data sheet of the motor. Therefore, in embodiments where the voltage measurement for the voltage measurement period comprises a plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is, the number S of voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is to be acquired during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor may be chosen based on the primary estimate of the rotor time constant, for example based on a multiple of the primary estimate of the rotor time constant (e.g. 2 or 3 times the primary estimate of the rotor time constant).

[0179] In some embodiments, the integration method may be applied to voltage measured from the beginning of the demagnetization process up to the method switching time (t.sub.st), and a first magnetic flux estimate may be determined based on results of the integration method, and the exponential regression method may be used to determine a second magnetic flux estimate component that corresponds to the demagnetization of the core from the method switching time (t.sub.st) to the end of the demagnetization.

[0180] In one or more embodiments, the second magnetic flux estimate component may be determined based on one or more voltage measurement data points of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is (e.g. based on the last voltage measurement point v.sub.s), or based on an average voltage value ({tilde over (v)}.sub.s) averaging a plurality of voltage measurement data points of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is (for example selected in the neighborhood among the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is of the last voltage measurement point (v.sub.s)).

[0181] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of voltage measurement data points selected for determining the average voltage value may be comprised in a set Of {v.sub.S+k}.sub.-2Kk0, wherein K is a non-zero natural integer. In some embodiments, an average voltage value (v.sub.s) averaging a plurality of voltage measurement data points of the plurality of S voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is may be determined, for example according to the following formula:

[00022]${\stackrel{}{v}}_S=\frac{1}{2K}\underset{-2Kk0}{.Math.}{v}_{S+k}$

[0182] This average voltage value may in some embodiments provide an average voltage value at the method switching time (t.sub.st).

[0183] In one or more embodiments, the voltage measurement at terminals of the motor at standstill may be performed during a preconfigured voltage measurement period and may be pursued for some time after expiry of the voltage measurement period. For example, voltage measurement data points may still be acquired after the end of the preconfigured voltage measurement period. In some embodiments, voltage measurement data points acquired after the end of the preconfigured voltage measurement period may be used to calculate an average voltage value at the method switching time (t.sub.st), for example according to the following formula:

[00023]${\stackrel{}{v}}_S=\frac{1}{2K}\underset{-KkK}{.Math.}{v}_{S+k}$

[0184] Using an average value advantageously allows rejecting high-frequency noise measurements and provides a better representative value of the voltage at the instant of the demagnetization process corresponding to the method switching time (t.sub.st).

[0185] In one or more embodiments, the second magnetic flux estimate component may be determined by combining the estimate {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0 of the rotor time constant with the average voltage value at the method switching time ({tilde over (v)}.sub.s), e.g. based on the product {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0.Math.{tilde over (V)}.sub.s.

[0186] Therefore, in some embodiments, the exponential regression method may provide an estimate to of the rotor time constant, and such estimate may be combined with a voltage value corresponding to the method switching time, such as, in some embodiments, an average voltage value corresponding to the method switching time.

[0187] In one or more embodiments, an estimate {circumflex over ()} the magnetic flux of the magnetic core of the motor after magnetization (e.g. resulting from a DC injection) may be determined based on the following formula:

[00024]$\stackrel{}{}=t\underset{i=1}{\overset{S}{.Math.}}{v}_i+{\stackrel{}{}}_0{\stackrel{}{v}}_S$

[0188] where {circumflex over (t)}.sub.0 is an estimate of a time constant of the rotor of the motor, S is the number of voltage measurement data points (v.sub.i).sub.1is obtained through voltage measurement sampling with a sampling interval (t), and {tilde over (v)}.sub.s is an average voltage value at a method switching time configured based on S.Math.t. For example, the average voltage value {tilde over (v)}.sub.s may be determined based on the following formula:

[00025]${\stackrel{}{v}}_S=\frac{1}{2K}\underset{-KkK}{.Math.}{v}_{S+k}$

[0189] or, depending on the embodiment, based on the following formula:

[00026]${\stackrel{}{v}}_S=\frac{1}{2K}\underset{-2Kk0}{.Math.}{v}_{S+k}$

[0190] Therefore, advantageously, in order to benefit from each of the advantages of both the integration method and the exponential regression method, the proposed scheme advantageously uses the integration method at the beginning of the demagnetization process of the magnetic core, where magnetic saturation is most likely occurring, and then, after a preconfigured time interval, switches to the exponential regression method to account for the remaining flux of the demagnetization process. This hybridization offers a number of benefits. For example, errors are less likely to accumulate and become non-negligible because the integration method is not used for a time as long as the entire demagnetization process. In addition, observing that the saturation effect is influencing only for a multiple of (e.g., the first one to two times) the rotor time constant, the integration method will take into account this effect, and the remaining part of the voltage signal can be more trustfully considered as exponentially decreasing and then, be processed more efficiently by the exponential regression method. Finally, because the flux can be easily calculated mathematically once the parameters of the exponential curve are accurately estimated, the exponential regression advantageously allows estimating the flux before the measured voltage completely decays which makes the proposed method time-saving.

[0191] A primary estimation of the rotor time constant may advantageously be used to set the parameter for the switching instant between these two methods.

[0192] In one or more embodiments, an estimate of a rotor resistance (R.sub.r) of the motor may be determined based on the estimates of the magnetic inductance component (L.sub.0) of the motor and the rotor time constant ({circumflex over (t)}.sub.0).

[0193] Noting that the time constant of an inductance-resistor parallel circuit such as the magnetic inductance component L and rotor resistance R.sub.r of the model circuit of FIG. 2 may be expressed ad

[00027]$=\frac{L}{R_r},$

the rotor resistance R.sub.r may in some embodiments

[0194] be estimated based on the ratio L.sub.0/{circumflex over (t)}.sub.0 of the estimate of the magnetic inductance component (L.sub.0) of the motor over the estimate of the rotor time constant ({circumflex over (t)}.sub.0). For example, in some embodiments, the rotor resistance R.sub.r as

[00028]$R_r=\frac{L_0}{{\stackrel{}{}}_0}.$

[0195] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary motor drive apparatus 100 configured to use features in accordance with embodiments of the present subject disclosure.

[0196] The motor drive apparatus 100 may include a control engine 101, a motor drive engine 102, motor interface engine 103, a memory 105, and a power supply (e.g., a battery, plug-in power supply, etc.) (not represented on the figure). The motor drive apparatus may be configured with a data communication interface (not represented on the figure) configured for coupling the apparatus to an induction motor (through one or more motor terminals of the motor) for driving the induction motor through the data communication interface (not represented on the figure), and/or with an electrical signal interface for electrical coupling of the apparatus 103 with an induction motor (through one or more motor terminals of the motor).

[0197] In the architecture illustrated on FIG. 8, all of the motor drive engine 102, motor interface engine 103, and memory 104 are operatively coupled with one another through the control engine 101.

[0198] In one or more embodiments, the motor drive engine 102 is configured to perform various aspects of embodiments of the proposed methods for configuring a motor drive as described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the motor interface engine 103 may be configured to determine, based on N voltage measurements voltage at motor terminals of the induction motor at standstill performed during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the induction motor, an estimate of the magnetic inductance component of the motor operating in linear regime, determine, based on one of the N voltage measurements, an estimate of a time constant of the rotor of the motor operating in linear regime, and determine an estimate of a rotor resistance of the motor based on the estimates of the magnetic inductance component of the motor and the rotor time constant.

[0199] In one or more embodiments, the motor interface engine 103 is configured to manage one or more of a data communication interface and electrical signal interface with the motor in situations where the motor drive apparatus 100 is coupled to a motor to be driven. For example, in some embodiments, the motor interface engine 103 may be configured to perform a plurality of N measurements of a voltage at motor terminals of the motor at standstill during demagnetization of the magnetic core of the motor.

[0200] The control engine 101 includes a processor, which may be any suitable microprocessor, microcontroller, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), Digital Signal Processing chip, and/or state machine, or a combination thereof. According to various embodiments, one or more of the computers can be configured as a multi-processor computer having multiple processors for providing parallel computing. The control engine 101 may also comprise, or may be in communication with, computer storage media, such as, without limitation, the memory 104, capable of storing computer program instructions or software code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the elements described herein. In addition, the memory 104 may be any type of data storage computer storage medium, capable of storing a data structure representing a computer network to which the motor drive apparatus 100 belongs, coupled to the control engine 101 and operable with the motor interface engine 103 and the motor drive engine 102 to facilitate management and processing of data stored in association therewith.

[0201] In embodiments of the present subject disclosure, the motor drive apparatus 100 is configured for performing the methods described herein.

[0202] It will be appreciated that the motor drive apparatus 1 shown and described with reference to FIG. 8 is provided by way of example only. Numerous other architectures, operating environments, and configurations are possible. Other embodiments of the node may include fewer or greater number of components, and may incorporate some or all of the functionality described with respect to the motor drive apparatus components shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, although the control engine 101, motor drive engine 102, motor interface engine 103, and memory 104 are illustrated as part of the motor drive apparatus 100, no restrictions are placed on the location and control of components 102-104. In particular, in other embodiments, components 102-104 may be part of different entities or computing systems.

[0203] Depending on the embodiment, the apparatus 100 may be implemented in software, as described above, or in hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or in the form of a combination of hardware and software, such as for example a software program intended to be loaded and executed on a component of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) type.

[0204] Performances of the proposed method are illustrated by FIG. 9, which shows a flux vs current curve of a real motor and an estimated flux vs current curve using the proposed scheme. As shown in FIG. 9, using a real test bench, the proposed method gives a magnetizing curve which is very close to the real one. In FIG. 9, the horizontal line indicates the nominal flux that needs to be applied when the motor is controlled. The Ida notation (which designates the nominal fluxing current of the motor) refers to the magnetizing current that generates the nominal flux. In the performance test illustrated on the figure, 5 DC injections were made and 5 corresponding flux values were estimated. The saturation model is then fitted on these 5 points and the resulting magnetizing curve is shown in the bold line. The other curve shows the real magnetizing curve.

[0205] The rotor resistance was estimated using a single DC injection for estimating the rotor time constant to, and 5 DC injections (an additional 4 DC injections) for estimating the inductance component in linear mode L.sub.0.

[0206] Results are reported in the following Table 1 from which we can see the proposed method's low error value, which provides a performance level comparable to the rotational tune but with a lot fewer restrictions because the proposed method does not call for mechanical decoupling of the motor.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Reference Estimated Motor Rotor Rotor power Resistance Resistance Error 0.7500 kW 4682. mO 4599. mO 1.77% 7.500 kW 267.3 mO 292.6 mO 9.49% 11.00 kW 175.1 mO 179.7 mO 2.59% 15.00 kW 157.9 mO 168.4 mO 6.68% 22.00 kW 60.73 mO 63.29 mO 4.22% 90.00 kW 9.507 mO 9.244 mO 2.77% 250.0 kW 2.746 mO 3.007 mO 9.53%

[0207] While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0208] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that certain advantages, features and aspects of the systems, devices, and methods may be realized in a variety of other embodiments. Additionally, it is contemplated that various aspects and features described herein can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and sub-combinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the systems and devices described above need not include all of the modules and functions described in the preferred embodiments.

[0209] Information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0210] Depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or functions of any of the methods described herein can be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out all together (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the method). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events may be performed concurrently rather than sequentially.