Controlled AC Electrical Drives

The use of AC electrical machines in controlled electrical drive applications is reviewed. The major types of electrical machines are briefly summarized to set the context and establish the physical basis for the control techniques used. Machine properties, which are the key to successful control, can be obscured by the necessary mathematics required for machine analysis and control scheme derivations. The main focus of this paper is on control techniques which are being applied to make AC drives a rapidly growing area. Development of the control is discussed, with concentration on recent trends suitable for practical applications in the industry with good dynamic behavior. A particular feature is the increasing importance of speed or position sensorless techniques.