Self-commissioning of RFO IM drives: one-test identification of the magnetization characteristic of the motor

This paper is concerned with the self-commissioning of rotor-flux-oriented (RFO) induction motor (IM) drives operating at variable flux. A solution is proposed which identifies the magnetization characteristic of the motor by means of one test only. During the test, the motor is kept at standstill with a single-axis supply. Within the same test, the rotor resistance is also identified. The solution is suitable to be implemented in commercial drives, as it makes use of the on-board hardware. The paper starts by reviewing the model of a saturated IM under single-axis excitation. Then the theoretical bases of the solution are set forth and the test is formulated. Afterward, an experimental rig is built around a commercial RFO IM drive and the magnetization characteristic of the motor is identified. Its comparison with data obtained from standard no-load tests with different voltage supplies confirms the validity of the solution.