In industrial drives market, speed and position estimation are one of the most important subjects for accurate motor drives. Vector controlled drives has the best dynamic performance among AC motor drives. Sensorless vector control is one of the most studied one. However, sensorless drive systems fail at low or zero speeds and may not have enough accuracy. For better accuracy and speed range speed sensors or position encoders are usually essential. However, coupling of sensor and sensor prices introduces extra cost on the drive. Thus in order to reduce the cost of the drive a cheap and easy to mount speed sensor is essential. Throughout this study, a speed and position sensor using an external search coil placed between cooling fins on the frame of an induction machine is proposed. The search coil utilizes the fringing flux outside the frame of induction motor. Using the induced voltage on the external search coil, a new method that estimates the flux and rotor position is proposed. In this study, the induced voltage on the search coils are investigated with different types of search coils placed on various positions. The frequency domain and time domain analysis are performed in order to build a model that can estimate machine flux, rotor speed and rotor position. As a result of this study, a low cost, easy to mount speed and position sensor is designed and implemented. Experiment results are presented.

A união por conformação eletromagnética de perfis tubulares de alta condutividade elétrica é um processo inovador e limpo que pode substituir com sucesso os processos convencionais de união baseados na fixação mecânica por parafusos, rebites, soldagem e adesivos estruturais. Esta tecnologia funciona a temperatura ambiente, permite a união de materiais diferentes e oferece potencial para promover novas aplicações na montagem de estruturas leves. Neste trabalho busca-se compreender a união por interferência de tubos por cravamento eletromagnético em termos de seus principais parâmetros com o objetivo de identificar a influência na resistência global das uniões e estabelecer a faixa útil de condições operacionais do processo. Inicialmente são apresentados os fundamentos teóricos do processo de conformação eletromagnética e suas principais variantes operacionais, seguido de um resumo do estado atual do conhecimento da aplicação desta tecnologia na união de perfis tubulares no qual é verificado que os parâmetros mecânicos são a tensão residual no mandril, a área e forma da zona de união e o coeficiente de atrito entre os componentes. Entretanto, tais parâmetros estão relacionados de forma complexa com o processo de cravamento eletromagnético, a começar pela energia e a distribuição do pulso de pressão magnética gerados pela máquina e ferramenta que “disparam” o processo de conformação, a folga inicial entre componentes, o material dos componentes e, a geometria, forma e rugosidade do mandril. O estudo experimental foca a união por interferência de tubos de alumínio (AA6082-O) com mandris de aço (AISI 1045) e alumínio (AA6082 nos estados O e T6) investigando de forma gradual a influência de parâmetros do processo na resistência mecânica (à tração) deste tipo de uniões. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a resistência mecânica da união e os modos de falha associados são diretamente relacionados com os parâmetros de processo e condições do mandril. Além disso, outras importantes contribuições são apresentadas em relação à instrumentação para medição de fluxo magnético e eficiência global do processo e para o desenvolvimento e aplicações industriais desta tecnologia. / Joining of tubular profiles with high electrical conductivity by electromagnetic forming (EMF) is an innovative and clean technology that can successfully replace conventional joining technologies based on mechanical fixing with fasteners, rivets, welding and structural adhesives. The technology works at room temperature, allows joining dissimilar materials and offers potential to foster new applications in the assembly of lightweight tubular frame structures. This work investigates the interference-fit joining of tubes by electromagnetic crimping in terms of its major parameters with the aim of identifying their influence on the overall strength of the joints and establishing the useful range of process operating conditions. Initially, the theoretical principles of EMF and its main operational process variants are presented, followed by a summary of the current state of the knowledge of its application in the joining of tubular profiles in which it is found that the mechanical parameters are the residual stress at the joint interface, the area and shape of the joint interface and the friction coefficient between the joining partners. However, these parameters are related in a very complex way with the electromagnetic crimping process parameters, starting with the charging energy and by the machine and tool which generates the distribution of the magnetic pressure pulse that “triggers” the forming process, the initial gap between joining partners, the mandrel properties such as material, geometry, shape and surface roughness. The experimental study focuses the interference-fit of aluminum tubes (AA6082-O) on mandrels made of different materials and metallurgical conditions (AISI 1045, AA6082-O and AA6082-T6) and, therefore, the process is analyzed by the gradual influence of other process parameters aiming to achieve high strength joints. Results show that the joint strength and the associated failure mechanisms are directly related to process parameters and mandrel conditions. In addition, other important contributions are presented regarding the instrumentation for measuring the magnetic flux and overall process efficiency and to the development and implementation of this technology in industrial processes.

A união por conformação eletromagnética de perfis tubulares de alta condutividade elétrica é um processo inovador e limpo que pode substituir com sucesso os processos convencionais de união baseados na fixação mecânica por parafusos, rebites, soldagem e adesivos estruturais. Esta tecnologia funciona a temperatura ambiente, permite a união de materiais diferentes e oferece potencial para promover novas aplicações na montagem de estruturas leves. Neste trabalho busca-se compreender a união por interferência de tubos por cravamento eletromagnético em termos de seus principais parâmetros com o objetivo de identificar a influência na resistência global das uniões e estabelecer a faixa útil de condições operacionais do processo. Inicialmente são apresentados os fundamentos teóricos do processo de conformação eletromagnética e suas principais variantes operacionais, seguido de um resumo do estado atual do conhecimento da aplicação desta tecnologia na união de perfis tubulares no qual é verificado que os parâmetros mecânicos são a tensão residual no mandril, a área e forma da zona de união e o coeficiente de atrito entre os componentes. Entretanto, tais parâmetros estão relacionados de forma complexa com o processo de cravamento eletromagnético, a começar pela energia e a distribuição do pulso de pressão magnética gerados pela máquina e ferramenta que “disparam” o processo de conformação, a folga inicial entre componentes, o material dos componentes e, a geometria, forma e rugosidade do mandril. O estudo experimental foca a união por interferência de tubos de alumínio (AA6082-O) com mandris de aço (AISI 1045) e alumínio (AA6082 nos estados O e T6) investigando de forma gradual a influência de parâmetros do processo na resistência mecânica (à tração) deste tipo de uniões. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a resistência mecânica da união e os modos de falha associados são diretamente relacionados com os parâmetros de processo e condições do mandril. Além disso, outras importantes contribuições são apresentadas em relação à instrumentação para medição de fluxo magnético e eficiência global do processo e para o desenvolvimento e aplicações industriais desta tecnologia. / Joining of tubular profiles with high electrical conductivity by electromagnetic forming (EMF) is an innovative and clean technology that can successfully replace conventional joining technologies based on mechanical fixing with fasteners, rivets, welding and structural adhesives. The technology works at room temperature, allows joining dissimilar materials and offers potential to foster new applications in the assembly of lightweight tubular frame structures. This work investigates the interference-fit joining of tubes by electromagnetic crimping in terms of its major parameters with the aim of identifying their influence on the overall strength of the joints and establishing the useful range of process operating conditions. Initially, the theoretical principles of EMF and its main operational process variants are presented, followed by a summary of the current state of the knowledge of its application in the joining of tubular profiles in which it is found that the mechanical parameters are the residual stress at the joint interface, the area and shape of the joint interface and the friction coefficient between the joining partners. However, these parameters are related in a very complex way with the electromagnetic crimping process parameters, starting with the charging energy and by the machine and tool which generates the distribution of the magnetic pressure pulse that “triggers” the forming process, the initial gap between joining partners, the mandrel properties such as material, geometry, shape and surface roughness. The experimental study focuses the interference-fit of aluminum tubes (AA6082-O) on mandrels made of different materials and metallurgical conditions (AISI 1045, AA6082-O and AA6082-T6) and, therefore, the process is analyzed by the gradual influence of other process parameters aiming to achieve high strength joints. Results show that the joint strength and the associated failure mechanisms are directly related to process parameters and mandrel conditions. In addition, other important contributions are presented regarding the instrumentation for measuring the magnetic flux and overall process efficiency and to the development and implementation of this technology in industrial processes.

A união por conformação eletromagnética de perfis tubulares de alta condutividade elétrica é um processo inovador e limpo que pode substituir com sucesso os processos convencionais de união baseados na fixação mecânica por parafusos, rebites, soldagem e adesivos estruturais. Esta tecnologia funciona a temperatura ambiente, permite a união de materiais diferentes e oferece potencial para promover novas aplicações na montagem de estruturas leves. Neste trabalho busca-se compreender a união por interferência de tubos por cravamento eletromagnético em termos de seus principais parâmetros com o objetivo de identificar a influência na resistência global das uniões e estabelecer a faixa útil de condições operacionais do processo. Inicialmente são apresentados os fundamentos teóricos do processo de conformação eletromagnética e suas principais variantes operacionais, seguido de um resumo do estado atual do conhecimento da aplicação desta tecnologia na união de perfis tubulares no qual é verificado que os parâmetros mecânicos são a tensão residual no mandril, a área e forma da zona de união e o coeficiente de atrito entre os componentes. Entretanto, tais parâmetros estão relacionados de forma complexa com o processo de cravamento eletromagnético, a começar pela energia e a distribuição do pulso de pressão magnética gerados pela máquina e ferramenta que “disparam” o processo de conformação, a folga inicial entre componentes, o material dos componentes e, a geometria, forma e rugosidade do mandril. O estudo experimental foca a união por interferência de tubos de alumínio (AA6082-O) com mandris de aço (AISI 1045) e alumínio (AA6082 nos estados O e T6) investigando de forma gradual a influência de parâmetros do processo na resistência mecânica (à tração) deste tipo de uniões. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a resistência mecânica da união e os modos de falha associados são diretamente relacionados com os parâmetros de processo e condições do mandril. Além disso, outras importantes contribuições são apresentadas em relação à instrumentação para medição de fluxo magnético e eficiência global do processo e para o desenvolvimento e aplicações industriais desta tecnologia. / Joining of tubular profiles with high electrical conductivity by electromagnetic forming (EMF) is an innovative and clean technology that can successfully replace conventional joining technologies based on mechanical fixing with fasteners, rivets, welding and structural adhesives. The technology works at room temperature, allows joining dissimilar materials and offers potential to foster new applications in the assembly of lightweight tubular frame structures. This work investigates the interference-fit joining of tubes by electromagnetic crimping in terms of its major parameters with the aim of identifying their influence on the overall strength of the joints and establishing the useful range of process operating conditions. Initially, the theoretical principles of EMF and its main operational process variants are presented, followed by a summary of the current state of the knowledge of its application in the joining of tubular profiles in which it is found that the mechanical parameters are the residual stress at the joint interface, the area and shape of the joint interface and the friction coefficient between the joining partners. However, these parameters are related in a very complex way with the electromagnetic crimping process parameters, starting with the charging energy and by the machine and tool which generates the distribution of the magnetic pressure pulse that “triggers” the forming process, the initial gap between joining partners, the mandrel properties such as material, geometry, shape and surface roughness. The experimental study focuses the interference-fit of aluminum tubes (AA6082-O) on mandrels made of different materials and metallurgical conditions (AISI 1045, AA6082-O and AA6082-T6) and, therefore, the process is analyzed by the gradual influence of other process parameters aiming to achieve high strength joints. Results show that the joint strength and the associated failure mechanisms are directly related to process parameters and mandrel conditions. In addition, other important contributions are presented regarding the instrumentation for measuring the magnetic flux and overall process efficiency and to the development and implementation of this technology in industrial processes.

A wave energy converter has been constructed and its function and operational characteristics have been thoroughly investigated and published. The wave energy converter was installed in March of 2006 approximately two kilometers off the Swedish west coast in the proximity of the town Lysekil. Since then the converter has been submerged at the research site for over two and a half years and in operation during three time periods for a total of 12 months, the latest being during five months of 2008. Throughout this time the generated electricity has been transmitted to shore and operational data has been recorded. The wave energy converter and its connected electrical system has been continually upgraded and each of the three operational periods have investigated more advanced stages in the progression toward grid connection. The wave energy system has faced the challenges of the ocean and initial results and insights have been reached, most important being that the overall wave energy concept has been verified. Experiments have shown that slowly varying power generation from ocean waves is possible. Apart from the wave energy converter, three shorter studies have been performed. A sensor was designed for measuring the air gap width of the linear generator used in the wave energy converter. The sensor consists of an etched coil, a search coil, that functions passively through induction. Theory and experiment showed good agreement. The Swedish west coast wave climate has been studied in detail. The study used eight years of wave data from 13 sites in the Skagerrak and Kattegatt, and data from a wave measurement buoy located at the wave energy research site. The study resulted in scatter diagrams, hundred year extreme wave estimations, and a mapping of the energy flux in the area. The average energy flux was found to be approximately 5.2 kW/m in the offshore Skagerrak, 2.8 kW/m in the near shore Skagerrak, and 2.4 kW/m in the Kattegat. A method for evaluating renewable energy technologies in terms of economy and engineering solutions has been investigated. The match between the technologies and the fundamental physics of renewable energy sources can be given in terms of the technology’s utilization. It is argued that engineers should strive for a high utilization if competitive technologies are to be developed.