Speed sensorless estimation of AC induction motors using the fast orthogonal search algorithm

This paper presents a method of estimating the speed of an induction motor using a measurement of the stator current. Speed-induced current harmonics are identified in the stator current using the fast orthogonal search (FOS) algorithm. The frequencies of these estimated harmonics are in turn used to estimate the speed of the motor given the number of rotor slots in the motor. Several optimizations of the FOS algorithm are presented to allow for real-time performance on an embedded digital signal processor. Experimental results of speed estimates on a 1/4 horsepower motor are presented to verify this approach.