A prototype implementation of a digital controlled rectifier-based wireless PMDC motor drive

A working model of wirelessly controlled permanent magnet DC motor (PMDC) drive is proposed in this paper. Proposed design helps enhancing the control of DC motors that are installed in industries from a central location though wireless medium, hence replaces dedicated control units and human supervision. Proposed design is based on the spectrum analysis carried out on DC motor supply voltage waveform resulted by half-controlled rectifier circuit. This methodology not only reduces harmonics in motor voltage and current but also reduces losses that occur due to high switching frequencies in conventional pulse-width modulation (PWM) based drives. Proposed design communicates with a remote control unit through RF channel. A prototype of proposed design is implemented to control a medium power PMDC motor and results are presented. Proposed design may be extended to single-phase or three-phase AC-DC converter fed DC drives and to single-phase or three-phase AC motor drives. Proposed design is fully compatible with 50Hz and 60Hz power systems. Proposed drive is implemented using a high-power microcontroller unit.