Rotor Resistance Estimator based on Virtual Current Sensor Algorithm for Induction Motor Drives

In this article, model reference adaptive system (MRAS)-based estimator of a rotor resistance of an induction motor (IM) is presented. In contrast to the solutions known from the literature, the reference model of this estimator uses the measured values of the phase current and the adaptive part is a virtual current sensor. The article presents an accurate description of the algorithm taking into account the discrete equations for possible practical implementation in the microprocessor system. In the first step, the impact of motor parameters to stator current estimation quality in the adaptive model was checked. Subsequently, simulation tests of the proposed rotor resistance estimator were carried out for the field-oriented control of the induction motor drive system with a model of an induction motor with fixed parameters and an induction motor with a changing main inductance according to a magnetisation curve. The analysis of the estimator’s work showed its high efficiency and insensitivity to changes in the IM main inductance.