A coordinated motor working on direct current and operating without the employment of brushes is the one which is commonly known as brushless DC motor or BLDC motor.
The operation of this motor is based on electronic commutation with the help of a controller.
Working
An electronic six step commutation system is the basis of operation of BLDC motor. No carbon brushes are employed unlike those used in the brush DC motor.
The torque being generated in the motor is due to the permanent magnets which are encased with the electromagnets remaining stationary attached to the armature.
Stator and the magnetic field co-ordinate with each other at the same frequency and so no phenomenon of “slip” is produced.
The feedback and drive devices used in the six-step commutation are both easy and cost effective making electronic commutation less expensive. The brushless DC motor windings used in this method are only two out of the total three.
The motor has only a single current path due to which the current can be easily controlled by a single 360 degree loop. High speed and commutation requiring devices work best with the six-step commutation.
The torque frequency produced of this motor is also less than that produced by the sine-wave commutated motor.
Motor control
Brush DC motor, majority cases, works on a mechanical commutated system while the brushless version of the motor has an electronic brushless DC controller which can also be called Driver or Electronic Speed Controller.
The rotor is located using a Hall Effect Sensor or by using Back Electromotive Force (EMF) which is necessary in order to control the coordination better.
In the Hall Sensor Effect, three hall sensors are present helping in the localization of the brushless DC motor in which they are fitted in. Detection of speed, position, current sensing and proximity switching are the main focus areas of this method.
Transducer varies and along with it the output current and the magnetic field get affected. Direct return of the voltage acts as the feedback and this so happens because the sensor functions like an analogue transducer.
Using a group of sensors calculation regarding the distance between the Hall plate and a known magnetic field can be made possible and so the position of the magnet can be known. Hall sensor is also known to play the role of on/off switch coupled with circuitry, in case of a digital mode.
Alternating electromagnetic field results in the production of back EMF or counter electromotive force. In a brushless DC motor, the voltage which is produced due to the motion of the external magnetic field and the armature of the motor is called the back EMF. It can also be described as the production of voltage in an inducer because of changing or pulsating current.
This can also be counted as an indirect method to know about the position and speed of the motor. It is also called the sensorless controller as it has no Hall sensors present in the controller.
Selection criteria
To choose the best brushless DC motor it is important to know about the applications of the motor which include the torque, speed, size, power, length and many more.
The controller is also a very important part to consider as this greatly affects the functioning of the motor.
Last but not the least important factor is the environment.
Some devices which function in a harsh and damp environment demand motor of a specific IP rating to be installed for proper functioning.
Application
A lot of modifications and up-gradations have been made in the material and design of the brushless DC motor which has resulted in their decreased prices. It has displayed several plus points when compared to the brush DC motor.
The areas utilizing the brushless DC motor technology include instrumentation, medical, appliances, automotive, aerospace, military and equipment for factory automation.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of brushless DC motor can be summarized into:
- The mere fact of being brushless is the biggest advantage it has. This is so considered because due to continuous working the carbon brushes used in the brush DC motor get used up and need replacement after a certain period of time. This replacing can cost much money.
- The commutator is absent in this motor which causes it to produce less noise pollution and also reduces the chances of spark production.
- This motor is both small and light weight making it very useful when requirement is to move the motor or set it in a less available space.
- It is clean, powerful and maintenance requirement is also low.
- It also provides high speed, high dynamic responses and increased operating hours.
The disadvantages include:
- The construction of the brushless DC motor results in a greater start-up cost despite low maintenance requirements.
- The controller used in this is more complex than many used in other motors.
- To control the electronic commutation circuitry extra system wiring needs to be done.
Lifespan
BLDC motor has a greater lifespan. If the motor is used as per the provided specification the life is increased up to 20,000 operating hours which can be decreased in an opposite situation.
Hi,
What i want to know is how to increase watt of motor?