Control Apparatus for Inverter for Driving AC Motor

The present invention relates to a control apparatus of an inverter for driving an AC motor, and in particular to a control apparatus capable of effectively using electromagnetic vibration tones, i.e., noises generated from an AC motor such as an induction motor or a synchronous motor driven by a PWM inverter.

As conventional countermeasures to noises generated from an AC motor driven by a PWM inverter, there are known a scheme in which the sampling frequency of the PWM inverter is raised up to the nonaudible frequency region and another scheme in which noises are changed to be white noises by changing the sampling frequency of the PWM inverter so that it may not concentrate to an identical frequency. The former scheme is described in 1986 National Convention Record, IEE of Japan, Nos. 535 and 536, pp. 625 to 626, for example. The latter scheme is described in 1988 National Convention Record, IEE of Japan, No. 523, pp. 619 to 620, for example.

Upon occurrence of overcurrent, overspeed or abnormal state in a motor, this abnormal state is generally detected and displayed on a display device or informed of by means of an alarm device.

In the former scheme among the above described conventional countermeasures to noises, attention is not paid to occurrence of high frequency noises caused by raising the sampling frequency, resulting in a problem of radio wave trouble. The latter scheme has a problem that noises offensive to the car still remain because the total pressure level of noises is not changed even if noises are made to be white.

When an abnormal state of a motor is to be informed of, it is necessary to provide a display device or an alarm device in case of the prior art, resulting in a problem of an increase of the apparatus by that amount.

An object of the present invention is to make electromagnetic vibration tones generated by an AC motor nonoffensive to the ear.

Another object of the present invention is to inform of an abnormal state or the like of an AC motor by using electromagnetic vibration tones generated from the AC motor.

The above described objects of the present invention are achieved by, in a system in which the output of an AC power supply is supplied to an AC motor via a PWM inverter, changing the frequency of current ripple contained in the motor current according to an information tone to be generated as the electromagnetic vibration tone of the AC motor.

As a result of changing the ripple frequency of a current contained in the motor current according to the desired information tone, the electromagnetic tone generated from the motor serves as an information tone, and it becomes nonoffensive to the ear and can be used as an alarm tone or the like.

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of a control apparatus of an inverter for driving an AC motor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of an inverter section.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams for illustrating the operation of the inverter section.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing sampling pulses, voltage vectors, output voltage and output current.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the operation caused when an abnormal running state occurs.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating contents of a data table.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for illustrating contents of processing performed when an abnormal running state occurs.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a control circuit showing another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing relationship between musical interval and frequency.

FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram showing power spectrum distribution with respect to tone frequency.

FIGS. 11 to 15 are diagrams showing other embodiments.

FIGS. 16 to 18 are configuration diagrams showing the case where the present invention is applied to a multi-inverter apparatus.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by referring to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of a control apparatus of an inverter for driving an AC motor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a commercial three-phase AC power source, and numeral 2 denotes an inverter apparatus comprising an inverter section 2a and a converter section 2b. This inverter apparatus 2 is supplied with the output of the commercial three-phase AC power source 1 and outputs three-phase AC having voltages V.sub.u, V.sub.v and V.sub.w and a frequency f.sub.1 to drive a three-phase induction motor 3. Numeral 4 denotes a tachometer generator, 5 a current detector, 6 a base drive circuit, and 7 a control circuit. This control circuit 7 comprises a PWM signal generating section 8, a command value generating section 9, and a sampling period control section 10 which in turn comprises a data table 11 and an abnormal state detecting section 12.

When a motor speed command .omega.* is inputted to the control circuit 7 as a running command, the command value generating section 9 calculates and outputs a voltage command value V* and an inverter frequency command value f.sub.I * on the basis of a detected current value i.sub.f and a detected speed value .omega..sub.f detected respectively by the current detector 5 and the tachometer generator 4. This command value generating section 9 is provided to calculate a torque, which should be applied to the motor in order to correct the deviation of the motor speed .omega..sub.f from the command value .omega.*, on the basis of the above described deviation and the detected current value i.sub.f and then calculate the voltage command V* and the frequency command value f.sub.I * corresponding to the torque. As this command value generating section 9, a circuit as shown in 1988 National Convention Record, IEE of Japan -Industry Application Society- Report No. 74, for example, is used. Upon receiving these command values, the PWM signal generating section 8 generates a PWM signal. This PWM signal is supplied to respective switching devices included in the inverter section 2a via the base drive circuit 6.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of the inverter section 2a. FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams for illustrating the operation of the inverter section 2a. The method for generating the PWM signal will now be described by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3D.

As switching states of switching devices S.sub.1 to S.sub.6 of the inverter section 2a, there are eight combinations, i.e., (0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0), (1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 0), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1), (1, 0, 1) and (1, 1, 1). Each set represents successively states of switching devices of phases U, V and W. In each set, "1" represents a state under which a switching device of positive side of one phase is conducting and a switching device of negative side of the phase is nonconducting, whereas "0" represents a state under which a switching device of positive side of one phase is nonconducting and a switching device of the phase is conducting.

Voltage vectors V.sub.0 to V.sub.7 corresponding to these states become as shown in FIG. 3A. In case the output voltage is sinusoidal, a vector .phi. of magnetic flux generated by a stationary primary winding of the three-phase induction motor 3 so as to make interlinkage with a rotary secondary winding or a rotary cage conductor draws a circle rotating with an angular velocity .omega. as shown in FIG. 3B. In an angle .DELTA..theta. over which the interlinkage magnetic flux vector .phi. advances during a sampling period T.sub.s, the voltage vectors V.sub.0 to V.sub.7 are selected so that the magnetic flux vector may change along a circle drawn by the interlinkage magnetic flux vector .phi.. In case the voltage vectors are selected as V.sub.7 -V.sub.2 -V.sub.3 -V.sub.0 -V.sub.2 -V.sub.3 -V.sub.7 as shown in FIG. 3C, for example, relations between sampling pulses and voltage vectors become as shown in FIG. 3D. Therefore, a PWM signal corresponding to a switching state associated with each voltage vector is outputted from the PWM signal generating section 8.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are waveform diagrams showing the sampling pulse, voltage vector, output voltage and output current.

In case voltage vectors as shown in FIG. 4(b) are selected in one period of the inverter operation, output phase voltages V.sub.U, V.sub.V, and V.sub.W, and output line voltage V.sub.UV become as shown in FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d). Therefore, the U-phase current i.sub.U of the motor 3 becomes as shown in FIG. 4(d), and the period of current ripple is substantially in proportion to the sampling period T.sub.s. This current ripple causes electromagnetic vibration of the stator core of the motor 3, resulting in noises. In this way, noises having a frequency nearly equivalent to the frequency of the current ripple, i.e., the sampling frequency (1/T.sub.s) are generated.

On the other hand, the period T.sub.s of the sampling pulse is defined by the sampling period control section 10. The abnormal state detecting section 12 always monitors the detected current value i.sub.f and the detected speed value .omega..sub.f by comparing them with their limit values respectively set. Under a normal running state with respective detected values less than limit values, the abnormal state detecting section 10 outputs the constant sampling period T.sub.s.

It is now assumed that a trouble occurs at time as shown in FIG. 5 and the detected current value i.sub.f or the detected speed value .omega..sub.f exceeds a current limit value i.sub.LIM or a speed limit value .omega..sub.LIM at time t.sub.1 as shown in FIG. 5(a). When overcurrent in the output current or overspeed of the motor is thus detected, the succeeding sampling period T.sub.s is changed. For example, a sampling period T.sub.s0 under the normal running state is changed successively to sampling periods T.sub.s1, T.sub.s2, T.sub.s3 and so on under the abnormal running state as shown in FIG. 5(b). It is now assumed that durations of these sampling periods are L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3 and so on. As a result, the frequency of the electromagnetic vibration tone generated from the motor changes from nearly 1/T.sub.s0 successively to nearly 1/T.sub.s1, 1/T.sub.s2, 1/T.sub.s3 and so on. Therefore, it is possible to inform of the abnormal running state by such a change in electromagnetic vibration tone.

In order to change the sampling period from that of the normal running state to that of the abnormal running state, the sampling period control section 10 is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the sampling periods T.sub.s1, T.sub.s2, T.sub.s3, - - -, T.sub.sn under the abnormal running state are so stored into the data table 11 as to be associated with their durations L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3, - - -, L.sub.n. When the abnormal running state is detected, these data are called by the abnormal state detecting section 12. The sampling period T.sub.s0 under the normal running state is changed successively to sampling periods T.sub.s1, T.sub.s2 and so on under the abnormal running state and outputted. Durations L.sub.1, L.sub.2, - - -, L.sub.n have such length that the human ear can distinguish the tone change, and are preferably 100 ms to several seconds.

The processing heretofore described is performed by using a microcomputer. The flow of this processing is shown in FIG. 7.

When an abnormal running state is detected, data T.sub.sn and L.sub.n are first loaded from the data table 11, and the sampling period is changed from T.sub.s0 to T.sub.sn. The duration L.sub.n is set into a counter, which is a register (not illustrated) provided in the PWM signal generating section 8. The sampling period remains at T.sub.sn until L.sub.n is successively decreased to reach zero. That is to say, the frequency of the electromagnetic vibration tone of the motor is maintained at nearly 1/T.sub.sn during L.sub.n. When the count reaches zero, the next data is loaded. An electromagnetic tone having a frequency corresponding to its sampling period is maintained for its duration. In the same way, the frequency of the electromagnetic vibration tone is hereafter changed according to the data stored in the data table.

When an abnormal running state is detected in this embodiment, an alarm informing of this fact can be conveyed as a tone change by using an electromagnetic vibration tone generated from the motor. Therefore, it is not necessary to specially provide a display device or an alarm device for informing of the abnormal running state unlike the prior art. As a result, the apparatus can be provided at a lower cost.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a control circuit capable of producing a musical sound at the normal running state of the motor.

The sampling period control section 13 included in the control circuit 7 comprises the data table 11 and a musical scale generating section 13. If data of the sampling period T.sub.s stored in the data table 11 is so set as to be limited to one period of the frequency of each musical interval of the musical scale included in music, it is possible to make the electromagnetic vibration tone of the motor nearly equivalent to the frequency of each musical interval of the musical scale.

FIG. 9 shows relationship between musical interval and frequency. For example, reference tone (la) has a frequency of 440 Hz, and (la) higher than that by one octave has a frequency of 880 Hz. By dividing the interval between them into twelve sections in accordance with the frequency ratios shown in FIG. 9, frequencies of respective musical intervals are defined. By setting the reciprocal of each frequency as data of the sampling period T.sub.s and changing the duration L.sub.n of each musical interval in proportion to the length of the note, therefore, it is possible to play music by using electromagentic vibration tones of the motor.

By using the present embodiment, it becomes possible to change electromagnetic vibration tones of the motor, which have heretofore been noises offensive to the ear, into music.

Assuming now that the voltage is constant in the present embodiment, the power of the electromagnetic vibration tone of the motor becomes large at lower frequencies and small at higher frequencies. On the other hand, it is known that power spectrum distribution of comfortable tone with respect to frequency has large power in a low frequency region and has small power in a high frequency region as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, it is known that the power spectrum distribution of FIG. 10 is also attained by making the electromagnetic vibration tones music as in the present embodiment, resulting in comfortable feeling.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show other embodiments of the present invention. In the examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ripple frequency of the motor current is directly detected, and the sampling period is so changed as to attain the desired ripple frequency. The command value T.sub.s * of the sampling period is supplied from the abnormal state detecting section 12 shown in FIG. 11 or the musical scale generating section 13 to a comparing and calculating section 701. On the basis of the command value T.sub.s * of the sampling period thus supplied and a ripple frequency f.sub.r supplied from a ripple frequency detecting section 702, the comparing and calculating section 701 performs the following proportion calculation and integration to derive the sampling period T.sub.s. ##EQU1## K.sub.P and K.sub.I are proportion constant and integration constant, respectively. In the present embodiment, the precision in setting the ripple frequency of the motor current becomes high. It is thus possible to set the frequency of the electromagnetic tone generated from the motor at a predetermined value with higher precision so much.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show other embodiments of the present invention. The command value ##EQU2## of the current ripple frequency outputted from the sampling period control section 10 is inputted to a function generating section 705, which in turn outputs a permissible change width .DELTA.i* of current ripple. A comparing and calculating section 703 applies comparison and calculation to an instantaneous current command value i* outputted from an instantaneous current command generating section 704, the detected motor current value i.sub.f, and the .DELTA.i* to derive the PWM signal. Assuming now that the permissible change width of current ripple with respect to the instantaneous current command value i* is changed from .DELTA.i.sub.i * to .DELTA.i.sub.2 * at time t=t.sub.0 as shown in FIG. 15, the frequency of current ripple is changed from f.sub.r1 to f.sub.r2. If .DELTA.i.sub.1 *<.DELTA.i.sub.2 *, the relation f.sub.r1 >f.sub.r2 generally holds true. By controlling .DELTA.i* according to this relation, the ripple frequency f.sub.r of the motor current i.sub.f can be made equal to the desired value f.sub.r *.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the case where the present invention is applied to a multi-inverter apparatus.

An inverter apparatus 20 comprises a plurality of unit inverters 20a to 20n run so as to have running phases shifted by (180.degree./3n) respectively. Their output voltages are summed up by a multiple transformer 30. The resultant voltage is supplied to a three-phase induction motor 3 to drive the motor 3. Although not especially illustrated, each unit inverter is associated with a circuit equivalent to the control circuit shown in FIG. 1. Sampling periods and their durations as shown in FIG. 17 stored beforehand into data tables 40a to 40n respectively associated with the unit inverters 20a to 20n. By doing so, the electromagnetic vibration tone generated from the motor 3 becomes a compound of frequencies nearly equivalent to sampling frequencies of the unit inverters.

In the present embodiment, the information tone generated as the electromagnetic vibration tone when an abnormal running state has been detected can be made more complex than that of the above described embodiments. If a combination of frequencies to be composed is made to agree with frequency components of voice, for example, the information tone can be changed to a voice message such as a message "overspeed has occurred in the motor" to inform of the abnormal running state more clearly.

By combining this embodiment with the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it becomes possible to generate a chord as the electromagnetic vibration tone, resulting in more comfortable music. In case a plurality of motors are run in parallel, a similar effect can be obtained by using configuration as shown in FIG. 18.

If the present invention is applied to house hold appliances using a PWM inverter drive motor system, it is possible to use effectively the electromagnetic vibration tones as an alarm, a message or BGM (background music), resulting in favorable feeling of use without noises.

Further, if the present embodiment is applied to a plant system using a PWM inverter drive motor system, it becomes possible to use effectively the electromagnetic vibration tones especially as an alarm when abnormality occurs in the system.