2020 IEEE International Conference on Computing, Power and Communication Technologies (GUCON)

Galgotias University, Greater Noida, UP, India. Oct 2-4, 2020

Power Quality Improvement of BLDC Motor Drive

using Cuk PFC Converter
Priti S. Pathare V.M. Panchade
G.H. Raisoni Institute of Engg. & Tech., G.H. Raisoni Institute of Engg. & Tech.,
Pune, India Pune, India
pritipathare85@gmail.com vmpanchade@gmail.com

Abstract— In this paper cuk dc-dc converter fed BLDC motor PFC Boost converter
drive is described. Power quality issues have been improved by DBR Lf Li D

using cuk power factor correction (PFC) converter. In this

s2 s4
system speed control is attained by maintaining proportionality Cd
s6

1ᶲ Cf
between speed and dc link voltage. Modeling and performance AC
BLDC
Sw motor
evaluation is done with Matlab-Simulink. It results in unity
s1 s3 s5
power factor and reduction in harmonics. Cuk converter is
Ha-Hc
compare with conventional boost PFC converter using Matlab. It
leads to Cuk converter as good alternative solution for low power
6 gate pulses
application. PFC and
Reference DC link DC link voltage control
voltage Vdc* Reference speed PWM based speed
Index Terms— Cuk converter, Power quality, Power Factor ɯ* and current controller

Correction (PFC), THD, BLDCM.

Fig. 1. Boost PFC converter with constant DC link voltage
I. INTRODUCTION
This paper present voltage follower technique for control of
The application of BLDC motor drive is increasing because Cuk PFC converter operating in DCM. The advantage of using
of its features like reliability, lower electric noise, wide span of Cuk converter as PFC are less electromagnetic interference and
speed and low maintenance [1]. BLDCM is electronically acoustic noise. It results in overall improvement in power
commutated robust three phase synchronous motor. Electronic quality and better efficiency of drive. [7]
commutation of BLDCM obtained through three phase voltage
source inverter (VSI) by sensing rotor position.[2] The Lf
PFC based Cuk Converter
DBR
BLDCM drive is supplied by single phase AC and fed through Li C1 Lo
diode rectifier [3]. D s2 s4 s6

1ᶲ Cf
In this type of drive, current drawn from supply is peaky AC
Sw
Cd BLDC
motor
with large number of harmonics. It is due to high valued dc s1
s3 s5

link capacitor’s uncontrolled charging. This result as poor Ha-Hc

performance of drive in terms of power quality indices. It

comes to low power factor of order 0.7-0.8 and high PWM
6 Gate pulses
Electronic
Saw tooth
percentage of total harmonic distortion (THD) of order 65-70% Generator md commutation

[4]. The PQ standard, such as IEC 6100-3-2 is violated by Vc Voltage Ve Vdc* Ref. Voltage Generator N*
controller
current drawn from AC mains by the drives.[5] Therefore
boost PFC converter is popularly used among various PFC Fig. 2. PFC based Cuk fed BLDCM drive
converter topology.
Conventional boost PFC converter fed BLDC motor drive DCM operation of cuk PFC converter uses voltage follower
shown in fig 1. DC bus capacitor maintains steady DC link approach. It utilizes only one voltage sensor to achieve power
voltage. Control over speed is achieved by controlling high factor correction inherently. The DCM mode is chosen for low
frequency PWM signal. Hence losses occurred at VSI is high power application.
and it depends on square of switching frequency. [6] II. CUK PFC CONVERTER OPERATION
When VSI is controlled by PWM signals, switching losses The operation of Cuk converter in DCM mode for inductor
take place in VSI. This can be reduced by variation in DC bus (Li) is elaborated below. Fig 3(a)-(c) describes three different
voltage while controlling speed of BLDC motor. This leads to interval of switching period in Cuk converter operation. Fig
VSI operation in low frequency switching which has been 3(d) shows corresponding waveforms in switching periods.
utilized for BLDC motor commutation. Fig. 2 shows BLDCM
drive fed by Cuk PFC converter. The two modes of operation Interval I: During ON period of switch Sw as shown in fig
of PFC converter is given as continuous conduction mode 3(d), energy from supply is transferred to inductor Li.
(CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) [6]-[7] Capacitor C1 discharge by giving its energy stored to capacitor

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Cd via switch Sw. In this process iLi increases while reducing Interval II: During OFF period of switch Sw, (fig 3b)
capacitor voltage C1 indicated in fig 3(d). inductor (Li) goes in DCM operation by transferring its energy
towards capacitor C1 through diode D.
Inductor charging Interval III: Inductor Li is totally discharged as it is
discontinuous mode of operation. Current iLi reaches to zero as
Li C1 Lo shown in fig 3(d). However inductor Lo operates in continuous
conduction as current iLo does not reaches to zero. While dc
link capacitor receive energy from Lo.
D -
DC
Sw R
TABLE I. BLDC MOTOR SPECIFICATION
Cd Vdc
Sr.
Parameters Values
+ No.
1 Pole pair(P) 2
2 Maximum DC bus voltage 200V
Capacitor charging
(a) 3 Maximum Power(Prated) 314W
4 Maximum speed (ωrated) 1500rpm
5 Maximum torque(Trated) 1.5Nm
Inductor discharging 6 Voltage constant(Kb) 98V/krpm
7 Phase inductance (Lph) 25.7mH
Li C1 Lo
8 Phase Resistance (Rph) 15.46Ω
9 Moment of Inertia (J) 1.027x10-3Nm/s2

-
III. DESIGN CRITERIA OF CUK CONVERTER
D
DC Sw Cd
Vdc
R The DCM mode of Cuk converter can be designed as
follows: Cuk converter rated for 400W is designed for 314W
+ BLDCM. The range of dc link voltage value varies from 40V
Capacitor charging
(ୢୡ୫୧୬ ) to 100V (ୢୡ୫ୟ୶ ) with assumption of nominal value
(b) voltage of 70 V (ୢୡ୬ ). For supply ac mains voltage of 220V
(Vs), the average dc bus voltage after DBR can be expressed as
Inductor discharged ଶξଶ௏ೞ
ܸ௜௡  ൌ  ൌ ͳͻͺܸሺͳሻ
గ
Li C1 Lo
The Cuk converter output voltage is given by
஽
ܸௗ௖ ൌ ଵି஽ ܸ௜௡ ሺʹሻ
D -
DC
Sw
Cd Vdc
R For nominal dc bus voltage ܸௗ௖௡ corresponding duty ratio
(୬ ) is,
+ ௏೏೎೙
‫ܦ‬௡  ൌ  ሺ͵ሻ
௏೏೎೙ ା௏೔೙
Capacitor discharging

(c) ͹Ͳ
ൌ   ൌ ͲǤʹ͸ʹ
͹Ͳ ൅ ͳͻͺ
A. Selection of Li for Discontinuous conduction
Vg
Operation of inductor at boundary condition decided by
Sw On Sw off
critical value of inductance ୧ୡ given as [8]
ILi
௏೔೙ ஽೙೚೘
‫ܮ‬௜௖ ൌ ሺͶሻ
ଶூ೔೙ ௙ೞ
ͳͻͺ ൈ ͲǤʹ͸ʹ
Vc1 ൌ ൎ ͸ͶͳǤ͹ʹߤ‫ܪ‬
ʹ ൈ ሺͶͲͲȀͳͻͺሻʹͲͲͲͲ

iLo where ୧୬ is current passing through inductor and ˆୱ is

converter switching frequency.
Vdc If it needs to operate converter at low duty ratio for
improved power factor, inductor value selected as
t
I II III
୧ ൏ ‹…ൗͳͲ
(d)
Hence the value of ‫ܮ‬௜ selected as 90μH
Fig. 3. Opertion of Cuk converter in DICM(Li) during (a)-(c)interval of
switching period and (d) corresponding waveform. (a) Interval I
(b)Interval II (c) Interval III (d) Waveforms

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B. Selection of Lo for Continuous conduction TABLE II. DESIGN PARAMETER IN DICM MODE OF OPERATION

Here ‫ܮ‬௢௖ is critical value of output inductance given by Specification Values

following equation as [8] Supply AC mains(Vs) 230V
௏೏೎ ሺଵି஽ሻ DC link voltage(Vdc) 200V
‫ܮ‬௢௖  ൌ   (5)
ଶூಽ೚ ௙ೞ Converter Power 400W
ܸ௦ ଶ ܸௗ௖ ܸௗ௖ Switching frequency(fs) 20kHz
‫ܮ‬௢௖  ൌ ቆ ቇ ൬ ൰
ܲ ʹܸ௜௡ ݂௦ ܸ௜௡ ൅ ܸௗ௖ Mode of Operation Li Lo C1 Cd

ͳͻͺଶ ͹Ͳ ͹Ͳ DICM 90uH 0.3mH 0.66uF 2200uF

‫ܮ‬௢௖ ൌ ൌ ͲǤ͸݉‫ܪ‬
ͶͲͲ ʹξʹ ൈ ͳͻͺ ൈ ʹͲͲͲͲ ͹Ͳ ൅ ͳͻͺ
IV. CONTROL OF CUK PFC CONVERTER BASED BLDCM DRIVE
Hence the selected value of inductor for continuous It can be divided in two groups as-
conduction is 0.3mH
A. Cuk PFC Converter Control by using Voltage Follower
C. Selection capacitor C1 for continuous voltage Approch
The boundary condition value of intermediate capacitor ‫ܥ‬ଵ In this control technique for Cuk PFC converter, PWM
is as [8] pulses regulates dc link voltage at VSI input. For operation of
‫ܥ‬ଵ ൌ
௏೏೎ ஽೙೚೘
ሺ͸ሻ Cuk converter in DCM mode, only one voltage control loop
௙ೞ ோಽ ο௏೎భ has been employed to improve power factor. [9]
͹Ͳ ൈ ͲǤ͵͹͹Ͷ
‫ܥ‬ଵ ൌ  ൌ ͲǤͻͷͲ‫ܨݑ‬ The reference DC link voltage expressed by following
ʹͲͲͲͲ ൈ ͵͸ ൈ ͲǤͳ ൈ ʹ͸ͺ expression as,
The permitted ripple voltage of ΔVc1 across an
ܸ ‫ כ‬ௗ௖ ൌ ݇௏ ߱‫כ‬
intermediate capacitor ଵ can be considered as 10% of ୡ
Where ω* and ‫ܭ‬௏ are reference speed and back emf
Where  ୐ is assumed to be approximate load resistance
constant. The error voltage signal is difference between
value calculated as ୢୡ୬ ଶ Ȁ reference and measured value of dc link voltage as,
Therefore value of selected capacitor is 0.66uF ܸ௘ ሺ݊ሻ ൌ ܸ ‫ כ‬ௗ௖ ሺ݊ሻ െ ܸௗ௖ ሺ݊ሻ
D. DC bus capacitor value Selection (‫ܥ‬ௗ ) Where n represent nth sampling instant.
The dc bus capacitor value has been evaluated by following
expression [8] Voltage PI controller takes error voltage signal as input and
generate controlled voltage as output for any ‘n’ time instant
‫ܥ‬ௗ ൌ
ூ೏೎
ൌ
௉
ሺ͹ሻ given as,
ଶఠο௏೏೎ ଶఠఋ௏೏೎ మ
ܸ௖௖ ሺ݊ሻ ൌ ܸ௖௖ ሺ݊ െ ͳሻ ൅ ݇௜ ሼܸ௘ ሺ݊ሻ െ ܸ௘ ሺ݊ െ ͳሻሽ ൅ ݇௣ ܸ௘ ሺ݊ሻ
Here capacitor value has been designed for maximum value
of dc bus voltage expressed as, Where ݇௣ = proportional gain and ݇௜ = integral gain of
ͶͲͲ voltage PI controller.
‫ܥ‬ௗ ൌ  ൌ ͻͻͷ‫ܨݑ‬
ʹ ൈ ͵ͳͶ ൈ ͲǤͲͶ ൈ ʹͲͲଶ Here on comparison between output of voltage controller
Where δ represent permitted ripple voltage of dc link and high frequency sawtooth signal (md), result in PWM
assumed as 4% of ܸௗ௖ . Therefore selected value for ‫ܥ‬ௗ is pulses generation given by,
2200uF. if md <ܸ௖௖ then ܵ௪ =1 turned ON
E. Selection of filter parameter (‫ܮ‬௙ ܽ݊݀‫ܥ‬௙ ) if md ≥ ܸ௖௖ thenܵ௪ =0 turned OFF
LC filter which is designed to pass only lower order has Whereasܵ௪ denotes gating pulses; 1 denote switch ON and
been utilized to bypass harmonics in supply ac mains 0 for switch OFF state of the MOSFET.
comprises higher multiple of fundamental. The following
equation gives filter capacitance maximum value as [8] B. Electronic Commutation of BLDC motor
ುξమ Commutation BLDC motor is electronic. The stator coils
‫ܥ‬௠௔௫ ൌ
ூ೘
‫ ߠ ݊ܽݐ‬ൌ
ೇೞ
‫ߠ ݊ܽݐ‬ሺͺሻ are excited sequentially by correct switching of VSI which
ఠಽ ௏ಽ ఠಽ ௏೘ imposes permanent magnet rotor rotate in same direction. Each
ଵ phase conduct for 1200 symmetrical dc current. Hall position
‫ܮ‬௙ ൌ ‫ܮ‬௥௘௤ ൅ ‫ܮ‬௦ ฺ ሺͻሻ
ସగమ ௙೎ మ ஼೑ sensor detect rotor position for every 600 interval and thus
controller decide which coil energize by following the right
The value selected for input side LC filter as ୤ =1.2mH excitation sequence.[10] Switching sequence of VSI
and ୤ =330nF. corresponding to hall signals are represent in table below.

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 TABLE III. SWITCHING SEQUENCE FOR VSI CORRELATING TO HALL B. Result Cuk Converter Result
SENSOR
Hall signal Switching States
HA HB HC S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

V. SIMULATION RESULT OF BLDC MOTOR DRIVE FED BY

PFC CONVERTER
Cuk PFC converter performance based on diverse
parameters. Fig. 4 indicates simulated performance of boost
PFC fed BLDCM drive. In fig.5 describe various parameter
like ac mains voltage (Vac) and current (Iac), dc bus voltage
(Vdc), rotor speed (N) of BLDCM, electromagnetic torque (ܶ௘ ),
stator phase A current ( ݅௔ ), switch voltage ( ܸ௦௪ ), current
through switch ( ‫ܫ‬௦௪ ), current through inductor ( ‫ܫ‬௅ ),
intermediate capacitor voltage ( ܸ௖ଵ ). Fig 6 described
graphically performance of Cuk converter in terms of THD and
power factor. Fig. 7 shows Fourier analysis of supply ac mains
current at dc link voltage of 70V.
A. Boost Converter Result

Fig. 5. Simulation performance of BLDCM drive fed by Cuk converter

Fig. 4. Simulated performance of Boost PFC converter based BLDCM drive operated in DICM(Li) mode.

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 VI. CONCLUSION
Unity PF at ac mains is achieved by Cuk PFC Converter
BLDCM drive system. For speed control variable dc bus
voltage is utilized which result in VSI operated in fundamental
switching. While regulating dc bus voltage, control over speed
is achieved as speed varies linearly with dc voltage. For wide
speed range it can be observed that power factor tends to unity
and THD of supply current is reduced. The Cuk PFC fed
BLDCM drive has been good alternative for low power
application.

REFERENCES
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Fig. 7. FFT analysis of ac mains supply current for voltage at DC bus equal
to 70V

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