Automatic fault‐tolerant control of multiphase induction machines: A game changer

Abstract

Until very recently, the fault tolerance in multiphase electric drives could only be achieved after fault localization and a subsequent modification of the control scheme. This scenario was profoundly shaken with the appearance of the natural fault tolerance, as the control reconfiguration was not required anymore. Even though the control strategy was highly simplified, it was still necessary to detect the open‐phase fault (OPF) in order to derate the electric drive and safeguard its integrity. This work goes one step beyond and suggests the use of an automatic fault‐tolerant control (AFTC) that also avoids the detection of the OPF. The AFTC combines the natural fault‐tolerant capability with a self‐derating technique, finally obtaining a hardware‐free software‐free fault tolerance. This achievement changes completely the rules of the game in the design of fault‐tolerant drives, easing at the same time their industrial application. Experimental results confirm in a six-phase induction motor (IM) drive that the proposed AFTC provides a simple and safe manner to add further reliability to multiphase electric drives.