Survivability-Based Protection for Three Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Drives

This paper develops a survivability-based protection for three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drives against severe dynamic events. The proposed protection is based on defining a survivability index $\Gamma _{\text{PMSM}}$that is expressed in terms of power changes resulting from a dynamic event, which is experienced by the protected motor drive. The index $\Gamma _{\text{PMSM}}$ establishes an accurate measure to detect, identify, and respond to dynamic events that a three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drive may not survive. The validity, effectiveness, and accuracy of the survivability-based protection for three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drives are assessed through simulation and experimental testing. Assessment tests are carried out using a 10hp laboratory three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drive under various dynamic events. Assessment results demonstrate the efficacy and responsiveness of the survivability-based protection to unsurvivable dynamic events, and its ability to prevent damage to different components of a three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drive.