Hall-effect sensor fault detection, identification an compensation in brushless DC drives

This paper investigates Hall-effect sensor faults inbrushless dc drives and proposes a very effective methodologyfor their detection, identification and compensation. It isshown that these faults cause erroneous commutation,generally leading to unstable operation. By using a faultdetection and identification technique proposed by the authorsin a previous paper related to low cost field-oriented drives,[22], together with appropriate fault-compensated position andspeed estimation algorithms, it is shown for the first time thatproper operation is guaranteed for both single and doublefaults. Comparative experimental results are provided foroperation with three state of the art, Hall-effect sensor based,estimation algorithms: the zeroth order algorithm, [19], thehybrid observer, [20], and the vector-tracking observer, [21].It is verified that stable operation is achieved with three, two oronly a single Hall-effect sensor functioning correctly.