Electric Machines and Drives

Abstract

This book focuses on a very important and diverse field of electric machines and drives. The history of the electric machine, which is the keystone of electromechanical energy conversion, dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. The names of famous scientists, such as Michael Faraday, Joseph Henry or Nikola Tesla, are associated with the invention of the rotating electric machine. Electric drives have quickly become an integral part of our everyday lives and we can hardly imagine our civilization without them. Electric drives play a vital part in industry, transportation as well as in modern households. The twelve chapters of the book written by renowned authors, both academics and practitioners, cover a large part of the field of electric machines and drives. Various types of electric machines, including three-phase and single-phase induction machines or doubly fed machines, are addressed. Most of the chapters focus on modern control methods of induction-machine drives, such as vector and direct torque control. Among others, the book addresses sensorless control techniques, modulation strategies, parameter identification, artificial intelligence, operation under harsh or failure conditions, and modelling of electric or magnetic quantities in electric machines. Several chapters give an insight into the problem of minimizing losses in electric machines and increasing the overall energy efficiency of electric drives, which is currently viewed as a priority.