Fault Tolerant Rotor Position and Velocity Estimation Using Binary Hall-Effect Sensors for Low Cost Vector Control Drives

High-resolution position and velocity estimationalgorithms based on binary Hall-effect sensors for low-costvector control drives have been the subject of significantresearch in recent years. While different estimation algorithmshave been proposed and analyzed, no contribution so far hasdealt with Hall-effect sensor faults and their repercussion on thedrive. Here, single and multiple Hall-effect sensor faults areanalyzed and a method to detect, identify and mitigate suchfaults is investigated. The method is general, it ensures properoperation of the drive and is not dependent on the particularestimation algorithm that is used; by way of example, here it willbe applied to a vector-tracking observer. Limitations on theperformances of the faulty system are discussed andexperimental results are reported to confirm the theoreticalanalysis