Control Strategies for Electric Drives: An Overview

Modern automation, robotics, electric vehicles, and industrial machinery are all supported by electric drives.

Effective drive control enhances precision, performance and energy savings. This blog aims to provide you an in-depth overview of the various methods for electric drives, based on their principles, types, advantages, and typical applications.

What Are Electric Drives?

The drive consists of an electric motor, power electronic converters, sensors and algorithms to regulate the speed, torque and position of the motor as demanded by the application. This includes the uses such as:

• Industrial automation
• Electric vehicles (EVs)
• Home appliances
• Robotics and CNC machines

Need for authority in Electric Drives

Fundamentally, electric motors operate under the laws of electromagnetism, but, in practical terms, one must:

• Impose accurate speed-torque profile
• Assure stability with changing load
• Consume energy optimally
• Start and stop smoothly
• Protect against overcurrent, over speed, and overheating

Types of Managing Strategies

Managing methods for electric drives are generally classified as open-loop and closed-loop. Let's discuss them in detail.
1. Open-Loop Control
The leaves of signal is provided with no feedback from the motor, in open-loop systems. It is inexpensive but simple and has no accuracy and disturbance rejection.
Example: Simple fan speed authority using a potentiometer.
Advantages:
• Design is simple
• It is economical
• No sensors needed
Disadvantages:
• No compensation for load variation
• Inaccurate power of speed
2. Closed-Loop System
A closed-loop sensor watch on motor's operation and automatically adjusts input, allowing everything to work effortlessly and more accurately.
a) Scalar Control
It guarantees fixed voltage-to-frequency ratio for induction motor system.
Advantages:
• Easy to implement
• Ideal for low-performance applications
Disadvantages:
• Limited dynamic performance
• Low torque power
Applications:
HVAC systems, pumps, blowers
b) Vector (Field-Oriented Control - FOC)
This sophisticated technique separates torque and flux power in AC motors, just like for DC motors.
Advantages:
• High dynamic performance
• Torsion and speed precise authority
Disadvantages:
• Costly and requires sophisticated algorithms and sensors
• More expensive
Electric vehicles, robotics, CNC machines
c) Direct Torque Control (DTC)
In this technique, torque and flux are authority directly without any modulation techniques or coordinate transformation.
Advantages:
• No current regulators required
• Fast dynamic response
Disadvantages:
• Complex to implement
• Torque ripple is high
Applications: Traction systems, industrial drives of high performance

Other Advanced Techniques

1. Sensor less Control
• Removes the necessity for mechanical sensors by approximating rotor position/speed.
• Reduces system cost and increases reliability.
2. Model Predictive Control System (MPC)
• Using machine learning and AI for adaptive, smart power.
• Highly accurate but computationally intensive.
3. AI-Based Level System
• Employing machine learning and AI for adaptive, smart authority.
• Applicable for complex, nonlinear systems.

Comparison of Control Strategies

Control Type	Complexity	Performance	Cost	Application Area
Open-Loop	Low	Low	Low	Fans, basic pumps
Scalar Control	Medium	Moderate	Medium	HVAC, conveyors
Vector Control	High	High	High	EVs, robotics
DTC	High	Very High	High	Traction, industrial
AI-Based Control	Very High	Adaptive	High	Research, smart systems

Engineering Project Ideas Based on Electric Drive Manage

1. PID vs FOC level for BLDC Motors
2. Sensor less Speed of Induction Motor Using DSP
3. Fuzzy Logic-Based Speed leavel for EV Drive System
4. Simulation of V/f Control of 3-Phase Induction Motor using MATLAB
5. IoT-Based Real-Time Monitoring of Charged Drive Systems

Conclusion

The selection of a control method for electric drives is based on the type of motor, requirements of the application, cost factors, and the desired performance. Scalar is an approach that only magnitude whereas vector and DTC take into consideration the torque support angle as well as the motor magnitude and direction of motion. As sensor less and AI-based techniques are gaining popularity, the future of power drives is inclined toward intelligent, efficient, and autonomous systems.

Want to know more about electric drives and control systems?

Look at our expert project assistance at TakeoffProjects – where we bridge the gap between theory and practice!