An online rotor time constant estimator for the induction machine

Indirect field-oriented control of an induction machine requires knowledge of the rotor time constant to estimate the rotor flux linkages. Here, an online method is presented for estimating the rotor time constant and the stator resistance, both of which vary during operation of the machine due to ohmic heating. The method uses measurements of the stator voltages, stator currents, and their derivatives (first derivative of the voltages and both the first and second derivatives of the currents). The problem is formulated as finding those parameter values that best fit (in a least-squares sense) the model of the induction motor to the measured output data of the motor. This method guarantees that the parameter values are found in a finite number of steps. Experimental results of an online implementation are presented.