Experimental performance evaluation of a five-phase parallel-connected two-motor drive

The paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of a five-phase two-motor drive system, consisting of a parallel connection of two induction machines (IM). Thanks to an appropriate connection of the motors, two machines are controlled independently although a single five-phase voltage source inverter (VSI) is used as the supply. An overview of the operating principles is provided first together with the vector control algorithm. The experimental set-up is described next. Decoupling of control within the two-motor drive is illustrated using experimental results, which show performance of the drive system during acceleration, deceleration and speed reversal of one of the motors. Finally, shortcomings of this multi-motor drive solution are addressed.