International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

A Study on Industrial Motor Drives

Comparison and Applications of PMSM and BLDC Motor Drives

S.Sakunthala M.Tech ( Ph.D.)

Adhoc Lecturer & Research Scholar, Dept. of EEE
JNTUACEK – Kalikiri, JNTUA University, Ananthapuram
shakuntala.btech@gmail.com, s.sakunthala@ieee.org

Dr. R.Kiranmayi M.Tech, Ph.D Dr. P.Nagaraju Mandadi M.Tech, Ph.D

Professor & Head, Dept. of EEE Professor, Dept. of EEE
JNTUA University, Ananthapuram SITAMS, Chittoor, JNTUA University, Ananthapuram
kiranmayi0109@gmail.com mandadi.nagaraju@gmail.com

Abstract—This review paper gives the brief description of the
performance and comparisons of Brushless DC motor (BLDC)
and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) drives.
Both the electrical machines BLDC and PMSM have many
similarities but the basic difference is BLDC has Trapezoidal
Back EMF and PMSM has sinusoidal EMF. These two machines
have different characteristics. These two electrical machines are
low cost and can be used in many industrial applications.
Keywords—BLDC, PMSM, AC motors, DC motors, Inverter,
Comparison, Applications, Back-EMF, Drives, Sinusoidal,
Trapezoidal, Flux linkage.
I. INTRODUCTION
These two machines have many similarities BLDC motor is
used to identify the combination of A.C machines, inverter
and position sensors that show results in an electric motor
drive having torque-speed characteristics, as in a conventional
D.C machine [1],[2]. In a permanent magnet motor operating
on a fixed frequency A.C supply, the constant rotor flux
produced by the permanent magnets generates a constant
value of excitation emf, Ef. The actual value of excitation emf
depends on the magnet material, its physical dimensions, the
rotor design, and the air gap length. The machine designer
must ensure that the magnets are not demagnetized by the
application of normal or overload currents. This paper reviews
to compare and to impose the characteristics of PMSM and
BLDC drives for industrial servo applications. Some of the
criteria used include high power density, torque per current
rating, speed range, feedback devices, inverter rating, move
jerkily and ripple torques and parameter function sensitivity as
presented [1]-[5].
As per many types of research, we can come across that the
availability of modern permanent magnets (PM) with
considerable energy density led to the development of dc
machines with Permanent Magnets Field excitation in the
1950s. The introduction of Permanent Magnets to replace
electromagnets, which has a rotary motion and require an
external electric energy source, resulted in compact dc
machines. The synchronous machine, with its ordinary field
excitation in the rotor, is replaced by the Permanent Magnets
excitation; the slip rings and brushes assembly are distributed
with. With the advent of switching power transistor and SCR
devices in later part of the 1950s, the replacing the process of
the mechanical commutator with an electronic commutator in
the form of an inverter was obtained. These two changes and
becomes contributed to the growth of Permanent Magnet
Synchronous Machines and brushless dc machines. The
armature of the dc electrical machine need not be on the rotor
if the mechanical commutator is replaced by its electronic
version. Therefore, the armature of the machine can be on the
stator, equip better cooling and allow higher voltages to be
obtained: indicative clearance space is available for insulation
in the stator. The excitation field that used to be on the stator
is transferred to the rotor with Permanent Magnet (PM) poles.
These electrical machines are almost ‘a space out dc machine’
with the field and armature interchanged from stator to rotor
and rotor to stator, respectively. There are various types ac
drives available in the market figure1 gives selection process
of motors. BLDC and PMSM are low cost both have
permanent magnets it requires less maintenance compared to
the other motors. The causes for selecting brushless servo
electric motor drives over the brush-type dc motor drives are
well known and include robustness, higher torque and speed
bandwidths, and lower maintenance as presented[3],[4].
Figure 1: Applications of the motor selection procedure.

978-1-5386-1887-5/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

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 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)
A. Classification of DC Electrical Machines
An Electric machine it runs on DC electricity is known as
a DC motor. DC motor can run directly on capable of being
charged repeatedly (rechargeable batteries) making them more
portable to use. Two main types of Direct Current motors are
Brush DC and Brushless DC electrical motor. The Brush DC
motors use and internal power supply with stationary magnets,
while Brushless DC motors use rotation permanent magnets.
Figure 2 gives the explanation of types of dc electrical motors.
Figure 2: Types of DC Electrical motors.
B. Classification of AC Electrical Machines
An electric motor that runs with alternating current is
known as ac motor. AC motor drives are less cost and
maintenance compared to DC Machines. Figure 3 gives the
detailed explanation of AC electrical motors.
Figure 3 Types of AC Electrical motors.
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II. PMSM AND BLDC MOTOR DRIVES
A brief description of brushless DC motor and permanent
synchronous motor drives:
A. BLDC Motor Drives
The Permanent Magnet synchronous machines having
trapezoidal induced electromotive force are known as
Permanent Magnet Brushless dc machines. The advantage of
such a Permanent magnet brushless machine in comparison to
the PMSM. The major reason for the popularity of these
machines over their counterparts is control simplicity. To
initiate the onset and change of electric current in the phase of
an electrical machine, the outset, and end of the constant
portion if the induced emf have to be traced. That amounts to
only six distinct positions for a three-phase machine in each
electrical cycle. These signals could easily be generated with
three hall sensors displaced from each other by 120 electrical
degrees. Hall sensors are mounted facing a small magnet
wheel fixed to the rotor and having the same number of poles
as the rotor of the PMBLDC or the extra magnet wheel may
be distributed with by enlarging the rotor behind the stack
length of the stator and using the rotor magnets to provide the
position details. Such an arrangements track the entire position
of the rotor magnets and hence the shape and point of the
induced electromotive forces in all the electrical machine
phases. In contrast to the PMSM, which requires continuous
and instantaneous absolute rotor position, the PMBLDC
position-feedback requirement is much simpler: It requires
only six distinct total positions for a three-phase electrical
machine, developing in a major cost saving in the feedback
sensor. Further, the control involves notable vector operations
in PMSM drive, whereas such activities are not required for
operation of the PMBLDC motor drive.
Figure 4 describes the block diagram of PMBLDC motor
operation which consists of PMSM, sensors, and control
algorithm the power converter transforms power from the
source to the proper form to drive the permanent magnet
synchronous machines, which in turn, converts electrical
energy to mechanical energy.
Figure 4: Basic Block diagram of Brushless DC Motor Drives
B. PMSM Motor Drives
Permanent magnets are used on the rotor instead of wound
field: A permanent magnet can produce a magnetic flux in an
air gap with no field excitation winding and no loss of electric
power. Figure 5 gives the description of various components
such as PMS Motor, position sensors, inverters and current
 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

controllers of the electric drive system. The operation of PMS Not as efficient, lower torque Higher efficiency, higher torque
Motor needs position sensors in the rotor shaft when working
in the absence of damper winding. The need of purposeful the Low cost Higher cost
rotor position needs the growth of devices for position extent Sinusoidal or quasi- sinusoidal
there are four important devices for the extent of position, the Rectangular current waveforms current waveforms
potentiometer, LVD transformer, optical encoder, and
resolvers. Depending on the application and performance
desired by the motor a position sensor with the required By using very high energy magnets such as rare earth
accuracy can be selected. based magnets, a Permanent Magnet Machine drive can be
designed with high power density, more reliable and high
efficiency. These advantages are desirable for their application
in many sectors. The major advantages of PM machines
are[8]-[10]:

• High efficiency: The Permanent Magnet machines

have a very high efficiency due to the use of
Permanent Magnets for excitation which absorbs no
power. Moreover, the lacking of mechanical
commutators and brushes results in few mechanical
friction losses [11].
Figure 5: Basic Block diagram of PMSM Motor Drives
• High Power Density: The use of high power density
III. COMPARISON OF PMSM AND BLDC MOTOR magnets has recognized attaining very high flux
DRIVES densities in the Permanent Magnets machines. As a
result of very high flux densities, high torque can be
Permanent magnet motor drive scheme: There are a number of induced from a given capacity of electric motor
similarities in the overall drive scheme of the PMSM and the analogize to other electric motors of same capacity
BLDCM presented [5]: Table 1 gives the brief comparison of [11].
Brushless DC Motor i.e BLDC drives and PMS Motor [6],[7].
• Ease of Control: The Permanent Magnets motors can
TABLE 1 COMPARISON OF BLDC AND PMSM MOTORS
be controlled as smoothly as DC motors because the
BLDCM PMSM
control variables are easily available and constant
throughout the operation of the motor [11].
Synchronous machine Synchronous machine
Based on the shape of the back e.m.f induced in the stator
Fed with direct currents Fed with sinusoidal currents windings, the Permanent Magnet motors can be categorized
Trapezoidal back emf Sinusoidal back emf into two types:
Stator flux position commutation Continuous stator flux position
each 60º variation • Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM)
with sinusoidal back e.m.f as shown in Figure 6.
Only two phases ON at the same Possible to have three phases ON at
time the same time
• Brushless Permanent Magnet DC Machines (BLDC)
Torque ripple at the commutation No torque ripple at the commutation with trapezoidal back e.m.f as shown in Figure 6.
Low order current harmonics in the Fewer harmonics due to sinusoidal
audible range excitation
High core losses due to harmonic
Less core loss
content
High switching losses at the same
Less switching losses
switching frequency
Control algorithms are relatively Control algorithms are
simple mathematically intensive

Easier to control (six trapezoidal More complex control (continuous

states) 3ĭ sine wave)

Better for lower speed Higher maximum achievable speed

Noisy Low noisy

Doesn’t work with distributed Work with low-cost distributed
winding winding
Figure 6: Back emf waveforms for BLDC and PMSM Drives

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 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

IV. APPLICATIONS OF PMSM AND BLDC MOTOR [3] T. M. Jahns, “Torque production in permanent magnet motor drives
with rectangular current excitation,” IEEE Trans. Industry
DRIVES Applications, vol. IA-20, no. 4, pp. 803-813, July/Aug. 1984.
In general, as per many researchers, we can review that the [4] M. Brown and D. Moore, “Brushless dc or inverter motor drives: A
electrical motors can be applicable in many sectors like comparison of attributes,” in Proc. Motorcon Conf.,1982, pp. 11 1-123.
[5] E.K. Persson, “Brushless dc motors-A review of the state of the art,” in
• Industrial Proc. Motorcon Conf., 1981, pp. 1-16..
• Medical [6] G. Pfaff, A. Weschta, and A. Wick,“Design and experimental results of a
• Transportation brushless ac servo-drive,” in Proc. IEEE IAS Ann. Mtg., 1982, p. 692-
697.
• Automotive [7] A. Weschta, “Design considerations and performance of brushless
• Integrated applications permanent magnet servo motors,’’ in Proc IEEE IAS Ann. Mtg.,
• Communications 1983,pp.469-475.
[8] M.D. Singh, K.B. Khanchandani, “Power Electronics” second edition
• Household appliances ISBN: 978-0-07-058389-7 pp.908 & 959.
• Securities
Especially the ac servo motors i.e., brushless dc motor and [9] P. Pillay and R. Krishnan, “Modeling, analysis, and simulation of a high
performance, vector controlled, permanent magnet synchronous motor
permanent magnet synchronous motors are very popular drive,in”Proc.IEEEIASAnn.\Mtg.,1987.
electrical motors with less cost, high power density, and less
maintenance can be applicable in wide range for example [10] R. Krishnan and P. Pillay, “Parameter sensitivity in vector controlled
robotics, electric and hybrid vehicles, refrigerators, washing ac motor drives,” in Proc. 1987 IEEE IECON.
[11] http://nptel.ac.in/courses/108103009/23
machines, high-end pumps, fans and in other appliances,
which require high reliability and high efficiency.
Authors’ Information
V. CONCLUSION S.Sakunthala M.Tech ( Ph.D.)
She is currently pursuing Ph.D. in the
The two electrical machines that are permanent magnet Department of EEE in JNTU University,
synchronous motors (PMSM) and brushless dc motors Ananthapur and also working as Adhoc
(BLDC) are studied with block diagram representation and Lecturer Department of EEE in
comparison. These two electrical machines have similarities in JNTUACEK, Kalikiri, India. Her research
construction but the variation is that the PMSM with interest is in Modeling and Control of
sinusoidal EMF and BLDC with trapezoidal back EMF. Due Permanent Magnet Motor Drives using
to wide range of applications of AC servo motors with high Matlab/Simulink. Her interesting areas include Power
power density, low cost, less maintenance, more reliable and Electronics, Electrical Machines, & Modeling and Analysis of
high efficiency these two electrical machines can be studied AC Drives. She is a life member of ISTE, ISCA, IAENG and
and it can be implemented in many ways by using controllers also a member of IEEE.
that can control speed of both the PMSM and BLDC motors
and can minimize the high torque ripples with good efficiency. Dr. R.Kiranmayi M.Tech, Ph.D
Presently working as Professor & Head
Department of EEE in JNTUA
Acknowledgment College of Engineering, Anantapur, AP.
Her areas of interest include renewable
I am very happy to be a part of the electrical world as a energy resources, electrical power systems.
researcher. And I wish to thank all authors who supported me She is a life member of ISTE and IEI.
to write this paper. The paper, participating in its early stage
and giving the idea to extend it up to a review paper. I would Dr. P.Nagaraju Mandadi M.Tech, Ph.D
also like to thank the colleagues and friends for their fruitful Presently working as As Professor
cooperation, contribution, and discussions. My special thanks
Department of EEE in SITAMS, Chittoor,
to my husband for complete support to do this paper.
AP. His areas of interest include
PowerSystems, ControlSystems, Electrical
References Machines.He is a life member of ISTE
[1] R. Krishnan, “Selection criteria for servo motor drives,” in Proc.IEEE and a member of IEEE.
IAS Ann.Mtg., 1986, pp. 301-308
[2] R. Krishnan and A. J. Beutler, “Performance and design of an axial
field Permanent magnet synchronous motor servo drive,” in Proc.

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