Speed Estimation of Induction Motor at Low and Zero Speed using High Frequency Signal Injection for Rotor Slot Harmonics Detection

Rotor position estimation based on high frequency signal injection method represents the interesting way to provide the high performances of the AC drives sensorless controlled at low or near zero speed range. So, this method requires the existence of saliencies inside the IM particularly the presence of the slots where their design constitutes the main advantageous to exploit its effect for rotor speed monitoring. First, the present paper exposes a model of the induction machine including slotting effects which it can be exploited in order to extract the harmonic saliency created by rotor slotting. Second, the high frequency signal injection method is used in order to allow tracking the characteristic harmonic saliency due to rotor slotting from which the rotor position and speed may be estimated. A High frequency voltage signal injection creates a high frequency current modulated by the saliencies presented inside the machine. To extract information about rotor position, the resulting stator current treads to heterodyning process to eliminate the disturbance components and subsequently the rotor position may be extracted by a closed-loop observer. Simulation results are shown in order to verify the validity of the proposal and to confirm the effectiveness of estimation method at zero frequency.