A Novel Rotor Position Synchronization Method for Central Converter Multi-Machine Drives

The aerospace industry is undergoing a paradigm shift towards More Electric Aircraft. Safe and reliable electromechanical drives are a key component of this transition. Previous research has shown a potential rotor position synchronization control for central-converter, multi-machine systems applied to aerospace actuators. This paper proposes a novel rotor position synchronization method referred to as the “voltage-boost” method. The method is based on in-line induced voltages through compact split-core three-phase transformers and low-power auxiliary converters. The paper describes the principle of operation of the method along with practical installation advantages, such as a non-invasive deployment. Simulation results show that the method is capable of achieving position synchronization under different load torque distributions, maintaining reasonable position error, and achieving a fast response. Additionally, a real aerospace typical load profile is utilized to verify the method's robustness under realistic operating conditions.