Operating principles of a novel multiphase multimotor vector-controlled drive

Independent flux and torque control of an ac machine can be achieved by means of vector control, utilizing only two stator d-q current components. Consequently, in ac machines with a phase number greater than three, there exist additional degrees of freedom. Although they can be used to enhance the torque production of a multiphase machine through injection of higher stator current harmonics, an entirely different purpose is possible as well. The additional degrees of freedom can be utilized to control independently other machines within a multimotor drive system. In order to do so, it is necessary to connect stator windings of all the multiphase machines in series, with an appropriate phase transposition, apply a vector control algorithm to each machine separately, and supply the stator windings of the multi-machine system from a single current controlled voltage source inverter (VSI). Inverter current control is performed in the stationary reference frame, using inverter phase currents. The foundations of the concept are set forth in the paper, for an arbitrary odd n-phase case, using the general theory of electrical machines. Further analysis is performed for all the theoretically possible odd phase numbers and it is shown that the number of machines connectable in series depends on the properties of the phase number. Connection diagrams are illustrated next for some selected phase numbers and vector control, including the inverter reference current generation, is detailed for the multimotor drive system. The main advantages and drawbacks of the concept are discussed and verification is provided by simulation of a nine-phase four-motor drive system.