Analysis and test of the sensorless capability of induction motors with created saliency

This paper presents various experimental tests on the sensorless capability of induction motors (IM). An intentionally created saliency is introduced in the rotor so as to allow the rotor position estimation by means of a high frequency injected signal in the stator winding. The experimental results are compared with those of finite element analysis. The parameters of the IM are determined by means of a FE procedure, based on the α- and β-axis model of the machine. Such a procedure is quite rapid, since it is based on the time harmonic response to a high frequency injected signal in the stator winding. This procedure is used to predict the variation of the IM parameters with rotor position and it results to be useful for both analysis of the IM performance and the design step of the machine.