Search results

To provide a new and simple inverse rotor time constant identification method which can be used to update an indirect rotor field oriented controlled (IRFOC) induction motor algorithm.

Two different equations are used to estimate the rotor flux in the stator reference frame. One of the equations is a function of the rotor time constant, rotor angular velocity and the stator currents. The other equation is a function of measured stator currents and voltages. The equation that uses the voltage and the current signals of the stator serves as reference model, however, the other equation works as an adjustable model with respect to the variation of the rotor time constant. Voltage signals used in the reference model equation are obtained from the measured DC bus voltage and the inverter gating signals. The proposed scheme is verified using a MATLAB/SIMULINK model for two different motors and experimentally using a DSP development tool (MCK 243) supplied by Technosoft S.A.

The proposed estimator was able to successfully track the actual value of the inverse rotor time constant for different load torque and speed operating conditions. Increased oscillations in the estimated inverse rotor time constant appeared at lower speeds (below 10 per cent of rated speed) due to drift in a PI regulator (used at the estimator side), which was tuned under rated operating conditions and using parameters nominal values.

This estimation scheme is limited when near zero speed operation is demanded; otherwise it gives a simple and practical solution. A suggested way out of this, is to provide a self‐tuning controller that can automatically adjust even for zero speed operation, or to automatically disconnect the estimator and take the most updated value as long as the operating speed is below a predetermined value.

This paper presented a new inverse rotor time constant estimator for an IRFOC induction motor application and in conjunction rotor flux was estimated without voltage phase sensors.

The purpose of this study is to obtain the optimal frequency for low-frequency transmission lines while minimizing losses and maintaining the voltage stability of low-frequency systems. This study also emphasizes a reduction in calculations based on mathematical approaches.

Telegrapher’s method has been used to reduce large calculations in low-frequency high-voltage alternating current (LF-HVac) lines. The static compensator (STATCOM) has been used to maintain voltage stability. For optimal frequency selection, a modified Jaya algorithm (MJAYA) for optimal load flow analysis was implemented.

The MJAYA algorithm performed better than other conventional algorithms and determined the optimum frequency selection while minimizing losses. Voltage stability was also achieved with the proposed optimal load flow (OLF), and statistical analysis showed that the proposed OLF reduces the frequency deviation and standard error of the LF-HVac lines.

The optimal frequency for LF-HVac lines has been achieved, Telegrapher’s method has been used in OLF, and STATCOM has been used in LF-HVac transmission lines.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Halbach array effects in surface mounted permanent magnet machine (SMPM) in terms of both self-sensing and torque capabilities. A comparison between a conventional SMPM, which has radially magnetized rotor, and a Halbach machine has been carried out.

The geometric parameters of the two machines have been optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) with looking Pareto. The performance of the machines’ geometry has been calculated by finite element analysis (FEA) software, and two parametric machine models have been realized in Matlab coupled with the FEA and GA toolboxes. Outer volume of the machine, thus copper loss per volume has been kept constant. The Pareto front approach, which simultaneously considers looks two aims, has been used to provide the trade-off between the torque and sensorless performances.

The two machines’ results have been compared separately for each loading condition. According to the results, the superiority of the Halbach machine has been shown in terms of sensorless capability compromising torque performance. Additionally, this paper shows that the self-sensing properties of a SMPM machine should be considered at the design stage of the machine.

A Halbach machine design optimization has been presented using Pareto optimal set which provides a trade-off comparison between two aims without using weightings. These are sensorless performance and torque capability. There is no such a work about sensorless capability of the Halbach type SMPM in the literature.

The paper seeks to provide an adaptive fuzzy logic controller for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) under direct torque control (DTC) algorithm to minimize the torque ripple.

The design methodology is based on vector control analysis. MATLAB simulations supported with experimental study under C++ are used to execute the proposed work.

The results show that considerable torque ripple reduction as well as considerable current ripple reduction can be achieved by utilizing adaptive fuzzy switching algorithm to fire the inverter supplying the PMSM.

This research is limited to PMSM, however the research can be extended to include other AC motors as well. In addition, the following points can be studied, the effects of harmonics in control signals on the torque ripple. Digital and active filters as solution to these harmonics can be also addressed. The actual mathematical relation between the torque ripple and flux ripple can be studied to set the flux and torque bands width in reasonable value.

Based on existence DTC control system, it is only required to change the software‐switching algorithm, to provide smooth torque, given that the switching frequency of the inverter module is more than or equal to 15 kHz and the system is supplied with timers. In addition, a relatively higher DC voltage may be required to achieve higher speed compared with the traditional DTC.

In this paper, the stator flux position, and errors due to deviations from reference values of the torque and stator flux are used to select two active vectors while at the same time the absolute value of the torque error and the stator flux position are fuzzified to adapt the switching of the inverter in order to control the applied average voltage level in such a way as to minimize the torque ripple, so instead of fixed time table structure, a fuzzy logic is used to calculate the switching time for the selected vectors and no PI controller is used as the case in the traditional‐space vector modulation. This work is directed to motor drive system designers who seek highly smooth torque performance with fast response.

Green roofs are acknowledged as a method to substitute greenery washed out by the urbanization. They provide many ecological and sustainable benefits of greenery; reduce the adverse effects of high-rise building constructions. Though this concept is more popular across many countries over the past few decades, still, implementation of this technology in Sri Lanka is new and scant. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the potential of green roofs in high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka.

The data collection was conducted through expert interviews and questionnaire survey. Expert interviews were carried out to validate the prospects and restraints identified through literature review to the Sri Lankan context and analyzed using content analysis. Questionnaire survey identified the most significant prospects and restraints using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-test. Purposive sampling was used to select participants.

Reduction of air pollution, aesthetical appearance, thermal benefits and energy savings, reduction of an urban heat island effect, the addition of points in the green rating system are the top most significant prospects that need to be highlighted in promoting green roof systems in Sri Lankan high rises. Less space allocation on rooftops, lack of technical competence and lack of awareness and research are restraints that need most effective elimination strategies to encourage green roof systems.

The first identified and quantified prospects and restraints for green roof system in Sri Lankan high-rise buildings can be utilized by the government, donors, multi-lateral agencies to promote the sustainable development in Sri Lanka and this knowledge could be used in different scale awareness programs. The value of this paper is such that the paper discusses the links of green roofs with the other facets of sustainability. The new legal reforms and amendments in Sri Lanka could potentially be pending with findings of this study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the contamination level in natural water resources because the tremendous development in the agriculture sector has increased the amount of contamination in natural water sources. Hence, the water is polluted and unsafe to drink.

Three types of sensor arrays were suggested: parallel, star and delta. The simulation of all types of sensor array was carried out to calculate the sensors’ impedance value, capacitance and inductance during their operation to determine the best sensor array. The contamination state was simulated by altering the electrical properties values of the environmental domain of the model to represent water contamination.

The simulation results show that all types of sensor array are sensitive to conductivity, σ, and permittivity, ɛ (i.e. contaminated water). Furthermore, a set of experiments was conducted to determine the relationship between the sensor’s impedance and the water’s nitrate and sulphate contamination. The performance of the system was observed where the sensors were tested, with the addition of distilled water with different concentrations of potassium nitrate and potassium sulphate. The sensitivity of the developed sensors was evaluated and the best sensor was selected.

Based on the outcomes of the experiments, the star sensor array has the highest sensitivity and can be used to measure nitrate and sulphate contaminations in water.

The star sensor array presented in this paper has the potential to be used as a useful low-cost tool for water source monitoring.

The end-effects is a well-recognized phenomenon occurring in the linear induction motor (LIM) which makes the analysis and control of the LIM with good performance very difficult and can cause additional significant non-linearities in the model. So, the compensation of parameters uncertainties due to these effects in the control system is very necessary to get a robust speed control. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new technique of LIM end-effects estimation using the inverse rotor time constant tuning in order to compensate the flux orientation error in the indirect field-oriented control (IFOC) control law.

First, the dynamic model of the LIM taking into consideration the end-effects based on Duncan model is derived. Then, the IFOC for LIM speed control with end-effects compensation is derived. Finally, a new technique of LIM end-effects estimation is proposed based on the model reference adaptive system (MRAS) theory using the instantaneous active power and the estimated stator currents vector. These estimated currents are obtained through the solution of LIM state equations.

Simulations were carried out in MATLAB/SIMULINK to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of LIM speed control with the proposed MRAS inverse rotor time constant tuning to estimate end-effects value. The numerical validation results show that the proposed scheme permits the drive to achieve good dynamic performance, satisfactory for the estimated end-effects of the LIM model and robustness to uncertainties.

The end-effects causes a drop in the magnetizing, primary and the secondary inductance, requiring a more complex LIM control scheme. This paper presents a new approach of LIM end-effect estimation based on the online adaptation and tuning of the LIM inductances. The proposed scheme use the inverse rotor time constant tuning for end-effects correction in LIM vector control block.

The major disadvantage of the field-oriented control (FOC) scheme of induction motors is its dependency on motor parameter variations because of the temperature rise. Among the motor parameters, rotor resistance is a parameter that can degrade the robustness of FOC scheme. An inaccurate setting of the rotor resistance in the slip frequency may result in undesirable cross coupling and performance degradation. To overcome this disadvantage, the purpose of this paper is to propose a model reference adaptive system (MRAS) rotor time constant tuning to improve the induction motor drive performance and to compensate the flux orientation error in vector control law.

First, the dynamic model and the indirect field-oriented control of induction motor are derived. Then, an inverse rotor time constant tuning is proposed based on MRAS theory where a new adaptation signal formulation is used as reference model, and the estimated stator currents obtained from induction motors (IM) state space resolution is used in the adaptive model.

The effectiveness and robustness of IM speed control with the proposed MRAS inverse rotor time constant estimator is verified through MATrix LABoratory/Simulink model simulation and laboratory experimental results. The simulation and experimental results show good transient drive performances, satisfactory for rotor resistance estimation and robustness with regard to uncertainties and load torque disturbance.

This paper presents an online tuning of the inverse rotor time constant using a new adaptation signal MRAS model. The proposed estimator is proved to guarantee the stability for different operating conditions, especially in very low/zero speed region and heavy load torque. The stability analysis of the proposed estimation procedure is also demonstrated.

This study aims to propose a sensitivity-based methodology for the optimum accommodation of distributed generation (DG) units in meshed power networks with appropriate technologies. The effect of load variation is incorporated into the proposed methodology to identify the most trusted locations for DG placement.

The effectiveness of minimizing active power losses is considered a key criterion. A priority list comprising both sensitivity indexes and realistic indicators is deduced to rank the optimum sites for the placement of DG units. A sorting index for distinguishing the suitable DG type(s) for each candidate location is organized. Three common DG types are considered in this work. The modified IEEE 30-bus meshed system is chosen to perform the proposed methodology.

Results demonstrate that the obtained priority index can be used to achieve the best real loss minimization rates. Numerous load buses can be safely excluded as candidate locations using the proposed approach. Consequently, the methodology can minimize the computational process of diagnosing the optimum sites for DG accommodation.

The findings determine that instead of installing many DG units at various locations with one DG type, a few certain load buses can be used to accommodate more than one DG type and significantly reduce losses.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the technique for estimating solar radiation in areas of rough topography and to detect the source of error and means for improvement.

Spatial data of the study area in the form of digital elevation model (DEM) coupled with geographic information system (GIS) were used to estimate the monthly solar radiation at locations with rough topography. The generated data were compared with measured data collected from all the selected locations using NASA data.

The results show that the variation in topographic parameters has a strong influence on the amount of solar radiation received by two close locations. However, the method performed well for solar radiation estimated in the areas of rough topography.

The proposed approach overestimates the monthly solar radiation as compared with NASA data due to the impact of topographic parameters accounted for by the model which are not accounted by conventional methods of measurements. This approach can be improved by incorporating the reflected component of radiation in the model used to estimate the solar radiation implemented in the GIS.

The approach of using GIS with DEM to estimate solar radiation enables to identify the spatial variability in solar radiation between two closest locations due to the influence of topographic parameters, and this will assist in proper energy planning and decision making for optimal areas of solar photovoltaic installation.