Test-bench set-up for high-power PMSM test drive for validating novel control schemes

Complex control procedures have to be developed for new drive control schemes to improve especially the dynamic behaviour of drives for safety-relevant features like slip-slide control or electronic stability programs. Today the development of the control algorithm is usually completely performed in software-based simulation tools, allowing a fast analysis of the system and of the control behaviour. The increasing calculation power of modern processor units allows by now the emulation of the drive chain and the converter in hardware-in-the-loop or power-hardware-in-the-loop test systems. Nevertheless high-power test benches are necessary to validate the proper operation of the control under `real' conditions and hereby proving the industrial suitability of the derived concept. This paper presents the set-up of a 140-kW PMSM laboratory test bench. The test bench with its real-time control system is presented in detail and first measurements of the controlled PMSM drive are presented.