Direct field orientation controller using the stator phase voltage third harmonic

This paper presents the development and implementation of a direct field orientation controller (DFOC) for induction machines based on determination of the spatial position of the air gap flux from the third harmonic component of the stator phase voltages. The control utilizes spatial saturation harmonic components rotating at synchronous frequency that are generated in the air gap flux when the machine operates in a saturated condition. When the machine is wye connected, the sum of the three phase voltages results in a signal dominated by the third harmonic and a high frequency component due to the rotor slot ripple. It is shown that the third harmonic voltage component can be effectively used to estimate both amplitude and position of the air gap flux. Two methods for estimation of the air gap flux from the third harmonic voltage are discussed in the paper. A complete induction motor direct field orientation control is designed and implemented in the laboratory. Extensive experimental results showing the DFOC drive system performance are presented and discussed