Modeling of DC Motor Start-up from Solar Array Cells

A DC motor efficiently converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and is indispensable across a wide range of industrial and household applications. The motor start-up is accompanied by a transient, which affects the motor performance characteristics and longevity. Understanding of all relevant physical processes and the possibility to model them are crucial for engineers and researchers aiming to optimize the performance of electromechanical systems and mitigate negative factors such as overloads and equipment wear. The article addresses the development and study of a mathematical model simulating the start-up of a DC motor powered from a solar array, which makes it possible not only to study the dynamics in the transient mode of operation, but also to evaluate the influence of various parameters on the motor start-up process and its subsequent operation. The model is implemented using the SimInTech dynamic modeling software. Computational experiments have revealed the key features of DC motor operation when powered by a solar array, which must be taken into account under real operating conditions. It is shown that electrical oscillations and an attractor of the "steady focus" type can occur in the system. The results obtained open new opportunities in modeling and designing electromechanical systems powered by renewable energy sources.