Analysis and design of a position observer with resistance adaptation for synchronous reluctance motor drives

A back-EMF-based reduced-order position observer with stator-resistance adaptation is analyzed for motion-sensorless synchronous reluctance motor drives. Analytical equations for steady-state estimation errors and stability conditions are derived (with and without resistance adaptation), taking into account errors in the parameter estimates. The effect of the observer gain on the noise reduction is studied by means of eigenvector analysis. A robust gain selection is proposed, which maximizes the allowed uncertainties in the parameter estimates. The proposed observer design is experimentally evaluated using a 6.7-kW synchronous reluctance motor drive; stable operation is demonstrated at low speeds under various parameter errors.