Benefits
Lower speed and torque ripple
Smoother operation
Operation at higher speeds through field weakening
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Measure rotor angular position
Compute the desired stator field vector based on measured rotor angular position
Control 3-phase currents to achieve the desired stator field vector
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The magenta vector shows the vector space representation of the stator magnetic field. The grey vector is our reference that points to the same direction as our rotor magnetic field. We want the magenta to lead the reference by 90 degrees. In the image shown below, the magenta vector is 45 degrees ahead of our reference, so it is leading by 45 degrees.
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The magenta stator field vector contributes to torque generation, but since it is not perpendicular to the reference rotor field vector, it is producing less torque than it actually could. To align them orthogonally, we can split the magenta vector into its components along the DQ axis (Clarke and Park Transforms).
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After this, we force the D axis component to be zero, while allowing the Q component axis to grow. Once the D axis component diminishes completely, our stator field vector is at exactly 90 degrees with the reference vector.
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How are the 3-phase currents changing to keep the stator field orthogonal to the rotor field?
The red, green, and blue vectors represent the phase A,B,C currents. The sum of these currents gives us the stator field current vector. These phase currents are controlled by Space Vector Modulation.
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The three phase currents are separated by 120 degrees.