Novel Approach in Sensorless Speed Control of Salient Axial-Gap Self-Bearing Motor Using Extended Electromotive Force

Axial-gap self-bearing motor (AGBM) is an electrical combination of an axial flux motor and a thrust magnetic bearing, hence it can support rotation and magnetic levitation without any additional windings. The goal of this paper is utilization of the state observer to research a new capability of sensorless speed control of a salient AGBM. First, analytical and theoretical evaluation for a sensorless speed vector control of a salient AGBM is presented. The approach is based on the estimation of the extended electromotive force (EEMF) through a Luenberger Observer (LO) with help of reference stator voltages, measured stator currents and measured axial displacement. Then, experiment is implemented based on dSpace1104 with two three-phase inverters. The experimental results confirm that the AGBM can simultaneously produce levitation force and rotational torque. Moreover, speed and axial displacement can be independently controlled without speed sensor.