IP Library Granted Patent US 10,298,168
Granted Patent B2
US 10,298,168 · App. 15/592,636 · Granted May 21, 2019

Slip-dependent motor model

Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo (Pullman, WA)
Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
H02P29/66G06F17/5009G06F17/5095H02P6/20H02P6/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,298,168
App. No.
15/592,636
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods configured to monitor and protect an electric motor during startup using a motor model. The motor model parameters may be calculated using measurements taken during a calibration start of the electric motor. The measurements may include slip, stator current, stator voltage, frequency, and/or other electrical or physical parameters. In some embodiments, the motor model parameters may be calculated by minimizing the difference between a measured slip and a calculated slip. The motor model may comprise a variety of parameters used to determine operation parameters of the motor during the startup. In one specific embodiment, the motor model may determine a thermal capacity used (TCU). The TCU may be compared to a threshold value to determine whether protective action is necessary.

Claims (55)

1. A system configured to generate a slip-dependent motor model to monitor and protect an electric motor during a motor start, comprising:

an electrical measurement input to monitor at least one electrical condition of electrical energy supplied to the electric motor;

a slip input configured to monitor a measured slip of the electric motor;

a processor in communication with the electrical measurement input and the slip input and configured to:

generate a motor model based on the at least one electrical condition and the measured slip during a calibration motor start;

measure the at least one electrical condition of the motor during a subsequent motor start;

determine a calculated slip of the motor during the subsequent start based on the at least one electrical condition and the motor model; and,

implement a control action based on the calculated slip and the motor model;

wherein the motor model comprises a representation of a standstill rotor condition resistance, a rotor resistance at synchronous speed, and a stator resistance.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor comprises a synchronous motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one measured electrical condition comprises one of an electric current, and an electric voltage.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate a thermal capacity used (TCU) of the electric motor during the subsequent start using the thermal model and the at least one measured electrical condition;

compare the TCU to a threshold; and

determine that the TCU exceeds the threshold;

wherein the protective action comprises interrupting the flow of electrical energy supplied to the motor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the TCU using the calculated slip.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one measured electrical condition comprises an electric current and the motor model is further configured to determine a calculated slip during the subsequent start based on the electric current.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a ratio of running rotor resistance to a standstill rotor condition resistance and wherein the motor model is at least partially based on the ratio.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft-mounted sensor in communication with the slip input.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the representations of the standstill rotor condition resistance, the rotor resistance at synchronous speed, and the stator resistance are determined by minimizing a difference between a modeled slip function and the measured slip.

10. A method for generating a slip-dependent motor model for monitoring and protecting an electric motor during a motor start, comprising:

monitoring at least one measured electrical condition of electrical energy supplied to the electric motor;

monitoring a measured slip of the electric motor;

generating a motor model based on the at least one measured electrical condition and the measured slip during a calibration motor start, the motor model comprising a representation of a standstill rotor condition resistance, a rotor resistance at synchronous speed, and a stator resistance;

measuring the at least one electrical condition during a subsequent motor start;

implementing a control action based on the calculated slip and the motor model.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor comprises a synchronous motor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one measured electrical condition comprises one of an electric current, an electric voltage, and a frequency.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

calculating a thermal capacity used (TCU) of the electric motor during the subsequent start using the motor model and the at least one measured electrical condition of electrical energy;

comparing the TCU to a threshold;

determining that the TCU exceeds the threshold.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a calculated slip during the subsequent start based on the at least one electrical condition of electrical energy.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one measured electrical condition comprises an electric current and calculating a slip during the subsequent start based on the electric current.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a ratio of running rotor resistance to a standstill rotor condition resistance and wherein the motor model is at least partially based on the ratio.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the threshold accounts for motor losses following the subsequent start.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising minimizing a difference between a modeled slip function and the measured slip to determine the representations of the standstill rotor condition resistance, the rotor resistance at synchronous speed, and the stator resistance.

19. A system configured to generate a slip-dependent motor model to monitor and protect an electric motor during a motor start, comprising:

an electrical measurement input to monitor at least one electrical condition of electrical energy supplied to the electric motor, the electrical condition comprising an electric current;

a slip input configured to monitor a measured slip of the electric motor;

a processor in communication with the electrical measurement input and the slip input and configured to:

generate a motor model based on the at least one electrical condition and the measured slip during a calibration motor start;

measure the at least one electrical condition of the motor during a subsequent motor start;

determine a calculated slip of the motor during the subsequent start based on the at least one electrical condition and the motor model, wherein the electrical condition comprises an electric current; and,

implement a control action based on the calculated slip and the motor model.

20. A system configured to generate a slip-dependent motor model to monitor and protect an electric motor during a motor start, comprising:

an electrical measurement input to monitor at least one electrical condition of electrical energy supplied to the electric motor;

a slip input configured to monitor a measured slip of the electric motor;

a processor in communication with the electrical measurement input and the slip input and configured to:

determine a ratio of running rotor resistance to a standstill rotor resistance using the measured slip;

generate a motor model based on the at least one electrical condition and the ratio during a calibration motor start;

measure the at least one electrical condition of the motor during a subsequent motor start;

determine a calculated slip of the motor during the subsequent start based on the at least on electrical condition and the motor model; and,

implement a control action based on the calculated slip and the motor model.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 4, 2018
From: SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047231/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2017
From: DONOLO, MARCOS A.
To: SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042481/0902 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2017
From: DONOLO, MARCOS A
To: SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042340/0375 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62359436 · Jul 7, 2016
Related Publication 20180013375A1 · Jan 11, 2018