Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 1988. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 1989. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Chairman: Fred C. Lee. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-149). Also available in electronic version.

For artillery and medium caliber munitions utilizing electronic fuze assemblies, numerous methods exist for collection or generation of the electrical energy required to power the fuze during flight. One general method of harvesting energy from the launch event is to employ the inertia of a movable generator component to effect a change in an electrically-coupled magnetic circuit. This paper describes methods of parameter selection and model-based design for the development of a switched-flux linear electric generator (LEG) of desired characteristics. Specifically, the tasks entailed development of a dynamic model for system-level simulation and the estimation of device flux and inductance profiles from finite element models for selected material characteristics. Single-magnet and dual-magnet designs, respectively capable of unipolar or bipolar flux operation were investigated. An experimental variant of the final dual-magnet LEG design was fabricated and analyzed. Recommendations for future design tasks are discussed. Also included is a brief overview of an inertial generator concept based on the angular acceleration of a magnetic rotor. A simple example of such a transverse-flux alternator is included and analyzed with discussion of the challenges facing further design.

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are promising candidates for electric vehicles due to lower manufacturing costs, higher efficiency, and robustness operation in a harsh envi-ronment. For accurate control of the SRM, the real-time rotor position is needed for phase computation. To obtain position information, position-sensorless control techniques have been developed to take the role of position sensors in commercial SRM drives for cost reduction or sensor-fault tolerance capability. Nowadays, the position-sensorless control of SRMs still suffers from a technical problem: the dependence on magnetic characteris-tics. Existing position estimation algorithms often require time-consuming offline meas-urement of magnetic parameters, limiting the broad applications due to the low generality. It is therefore of great significance to develop universal position-sensorless control tech-niques with less magnetic parameter dependence. Zero- and low-speed position-sensorless control of the SRM needs high-frequency in-jection into the idle phase to measure the stator inductance. Rotor position is often esti-mated from the prestored inductance lookup table but is replaced by a new regional phase-locked loop (RPLL) with a self-commissioning process in this thesis. The modeling of the unsaturated stator inductance can be established automatically via the pulse voltage injection at the initial stage without offline testing. The RPLL embedded with a three-phase heterodyne design can estimate the full-cycle rotor position from the idle-phase in-ductance based on the unsaturated inductance model. The proposed low-speed position estimator can also realize robust sensorless control in four-quadrant operation and magnet-ic saturation conditions without complicated magnetic characteristics. Besides, local sta-bility of the position estimator is proved, and an optimized parameter design scheme is given. Although pulse voltage injection offers accurate position estimation in low-speed op-eration, the induced pulse current results in additional copper loss and torque ripples. This problem is overcome in the thesis by regulating the magnitude of induced current at a minimal level. The induced current regulator is designed as a terminal sliding-mode con-troller that adjusts the injection voltage online over the whole idle-phase period. Proper control parameter selection based on the convergence analysis and stability proof ensures robust control performance against parameter uncertainties. The proposed pulse injection scheme combined with the RPLL can guarantee accurate position estimation while reduc-ing copper losses and torque ripples significantly. Due to the shortened idle-phase duration when the rotor speed increases, pulse injec-tion methods are infeasible for high-speed position estimation. To solve the problem, this thesis proposes a nonlinear observer based on feature position estimation in conduction phases for high-speed sensorless control. A self-commissioning method is adopted to cap-ture a two-dimensional flux linkage curve at a feature position, which avoids offline measurement of the complete three-dimensional characteristics. However, the estimated feature position has low resolution, and its estimation accuracy is degraded by nonideal flux linkage errors. To improve the sensorless control performance, a nonlinear state ob-server using online Fourier series is then designed to eliminate disturbances in position es-timation. Parameter design based on a small-signal analysis is also given to guarantee ac-curate position and speed estimation. High-speed position-sensorless control is further simplified using a new quadrature flux estimator without using any flux linkage characteristics. The method requires neither offline measurement nor online self-commissioning. This advantage is realized by adopt-ing a speed-adaptive bandpass filter to extract the fundamental flux linkage. A three-phase phase-locked loop is then used to estimate the rotor position from the orthogonal flux linkage signals without a priori knowledge of the SRM magnetic characteristics. The magnetic-parameter-free position estimation can facilitate the application of sensorless control in a general-purpose SRM converter. A wide-speed range position estimation scheme is realized by combining both the low-speed and high-speed position estimation approaches. Consequently, a universal posi-tion-sensorless control scheme is proposed in the thesis, covering the full-speed range and not requiring offline measurement effort. The proposed position estimation schemes are verified on a 5.5 kW 12/8 SRM test bench. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Double rotor machines, appearing in versatile forms and configurations thanks to the great flexibility of having a pair of rotors, are seen in a number of applications. Double rotor machines show promising prospect in the application of advanced hybrid electric vehicle powertrains due to the requirement of dual electro-mechanical ports in such systems. Integrating these powertrain systems with double rotor machines not only brings design freedom of laying out components, but also reduces number of parts and thus improves compactness. The switched reluctance type double rotor machines, offering unique characteristics of having a simple structure and no permanent magnets, are strong candidates for high performance applications. In this thesis, a family of double rotor switched reluctance machine with segmented rotors is proposed and studied. Compared to double rotor switched reluctance machines with a more conventional structure, the proposed designs exhibit potentials of achieving higher compactness and performance. A prototype double rotor machine of the segmented rotor design is constructed and tested to benchmark an existing double rotor switched reluctance machine. The experiment results show that the proposed design is able to achieve the same output with similar or higher efficiency than the benchmark machine, while occupying only about 60% of overall volume. The double segmented rotor switched reluctance machine demonstrates to be a promising double rotor topology and is worth further research. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

In this thesis, advanced control methods are presented for torque ripple reduction and performance improvement in switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives. Firstly, a comparative evaluation of power electronic converters including asymmetric, N+1, C dump, split AC, and split DC converters is presented for three-phase SRMs in terms of cost, efficiency and control performance. Secondly, two methods are proposed using torque sharing function (TSF) concepts for torque ripple reduction of SRM over a wide speed range. An offline TSF is proposed to minimize the copper loss and the absolute rate of change of flux linkage (ARCFL) with a Tikhonov factor. Then an online TSF is proposed by adding a proportional and integral compensator with torque error to torque reference of the phase with lower ARCFL. Therefore, the total torque of online TSF is determined by the phase with lower ARCFL rather than the phase with higher ARCFL as in conventional TSFs. The maximum torque-ripple-free speed (TRFS) of the offline TSF and online TSF is validated to be 7 times and 10 times as high as the best case in these conventional TSFs, respectively. Thirdly, two methods are proposed to eliminate mutual flux effect on rotor position estimation of SRM drives without a prior knowledge of mutual flux, one is the variable-hysteresis-band current control for the incoming-phase self-inductance estimation and the other is variable-sampling outgoing-phase self-inductance estimation. Compared with the conventional method which neglects the mutual flux effect, the proposed position estimation method demonstrates an improvement in position estimation accuracy by 2º. Fourthly, a fixed-switching-frequency integral sliding mode current controller for SRM drives is presented, which demonstrates high dynamics, strong robustness and none steady-state error. All the proposed control methods are verified by both simulations and experiments with a 2.3 kW, 6000 rpm, three-phase 12/8 SRM operating in both linear magnetic and saturated magnetic regions. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advances in mechatronics have renewed interest in the harvesting and storage of ambient vibration energy. This work documents recent efforts to model a novel electromagnetic transducer design that is intended for use in energy harvesting. The thesis details methods of experimental characterization as well as model validation. Also presented are methods of state space and parametric modelling eforts. In addition, this thesis presents equivalent electrical circuit models with a focus on switched pulse-width-modulated topologies that seek to maximize harvested energy. / Master of Science

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Circuits for sampling and retention of analogue signals are commonly implemented with techniques such as switched capacitors (SC). SC circuits employing the storage of charge in a linear capacitor to represent a signal in the form of voltage. Operational Amplifiers (AmpOp's) are used to transfer the load of a capacitor to another, sampling and holding circuits for analogue signals in closed loop. Recently, another technique has been developed without the need of building linear capacitors, making possible projects compatible with VLSI CMOS processes. This technique, called Switched Current (SI), is characterized by processing the signals in the current form, and implemented through the memory retention of electric charge on the gate of a MOS transistor in saturation zone. The charge is hold in a gate-source voltage and hence the current in a transistor. In this model, the excursion of the signal is not directly dependent on the supply voltage, but dependent on the polarization and current signal. This makes the model attractive for low voltage. The technique does not require AmpOp's and capacitors. The speed of the circuit is not limited by AmpOp's and its gainbandwidth product, but by design and manufacturing process. This technique is not yet consolidated and its performance is still not competitive with SC circuits [1] However, SI circuits become interesting as they constitute an open field for future research and the opportunity to be fully implemented in processes manufacturing oriented to purely digital circuits. This work begins with a framework of the subject matter, placing the reader in the state of the art manufacturing technology and some implications that directly affect analog circuits. Are also presented in this section some implementations which serve to characterize what is being done recently in terms of Sigma Delta (ΣΔ) modulators. Abstract vi In Chapter 2, are made a review of sampling and holding bases, the AD conversion techniques with focuses in oversampled AD converters, the circuits that implementing SC and SI modulators and their influences, and finally a review of the nonidealities that involve the practice of project. Chapter 3 a comparative study is done between memory cells SC and SI. Based on a simplified model of small signals, the behavior analyzes on the signal-noise-ratio (SNR), power consumption and speed, providing indications of performance throughout the operating region of MOS transistors. Chapter 4 deals with the initial specifications for the development of a ΣΔ AD converter for a specific implementation. The s tudies and estimates lead to pre-design of the project's ultimate goal the creation of a ΣΔ modulator in the SC and SI techniques. In Chapter 5 is intended to make the measures and tests that establish the standards of comparison, the discussion of results and conclusions. Finally, in Chapter 6, an alternative proposal is presented based on an architecture that performs a sigma-delta modulator with low distortion, implemented with SI circuit. The final conclusions and contributions are presented in Chapter 7. / Circuitos de amostragem e retenção de sinais analógicos são comumente implementados com técnicas de chaveamento de capacitores (Switched Capacitor SC). Circuitos SC empregam o armazenamento de cargas em um capacitor linear para representar um sinal sob a forma de tensão. Amplificadores Operacionais (AmpOp s) são usados para transferir essa carga de um capacitor a outro, amostrando e retendo sinais analógicos em circuitos de malha fechada. Recentemente, uma outra técnica tem sido desenvolvida sem a necessidade de construção de capacitores lineares, tornando possíveis projetos compatíveis com processos de fabricação VLSI CMOS. Esta técnica, chamada de Switched Current (SI), caracteriza-se por processar os sinais sob a forma de correntes, sendo a operação de memorização implementada através da retenção de carga elétrica na porta de um transistor MOS na zona de saturação. A carga retida corresponde a uma tensão portafonte e, conseqüentemente, a uma corrente no transistor. Neste modelo, a excursão do sinal não é diretamente dependente da tensão de alimentação, mas dependente das correntes de polarização e de sinal. Isso torna o modelo atrativo para baixas tensões. A técnica não requer AmpOp s e implementação física de capacitores. A velocidade do circuito não é limitada por AmpOp s e seu produto ganho-banda, mas pelo projeto e processo de fabricação. Essa técnica ainda não está consolidada e sua performance ainda não é competitiva com os circuitos SC [1], Contudo, os circuitos SI tornam-se interessantes na medida em que constituem um campo aberto para futuras pesquisas e pela possibilidade de serem completamente implementados em processos de fabricação voltados a circuitos puramente digitais. Este trabalho inicia com um enquadramento do trabalho proposto, situando o leitor no contexto do estado da arte das tecnologias de fabricação e algumas implicações diretas que afetam circuitos analógicos. São apresentadas ainda nesta seção algumas implementações que servem para caracterizar o que está sendo feito recentemente em termos de conversores tipo Sigma Delta (ΣΔ). No Capítulo 2, faz-se o embasamento sobre as técnicas utilizadas no processo de amostragem e retenção utilizadas para conversão ADΣΔ e uma revisão das não idealidades que envolvem a prática de projeto. No Capítulo 3 é feito um estudo comparativo, entre células de memória SC e SI. Baseado em modelo simplificado de pequenos sinais, analisa-se o comportamento quanto à relação-sinal-ruido (SNR), ao consumo e à velocidade, fornecendo indicações de desempenho em toda região de funcionamento dos transistores MOS. No Capitulo 4 são abordadas as especificações iniciais ao desenvolvimento de um conversor ΣΔ para uma implementação específica. Os estudos e estimativas que conduzem a pré-concepção do projeto têm como objetivo final a geração de um modulador ΣΔ nas técnicas SC e SI. Nos Capítulos 5 efetuam-se as medidas e testes que estabelecem os padrões de comparação, a discussão dos resultados e conclusões. Por fim, no Capítulo 6, uma proposta alternativa é apresentada com base em uma arquitetura de modulador sigma-delta de baixa distorção, implementada em circuito SI. As conclusões e contribuições finais são apresentadas no capítulo 7.