Brushless DC Motors

Sohaib Hasan
 Motor Basics
• What is a motor
– Converts electrical energy into kinetic energy

• Where did it come from

– Identification of rotating magnetic field principle by Nicola
Tesla in 1882
– Introduction of Electric Motor by Nicola Tesla in December
1889 (U.S. Patent 0416194)
 Parts of a Motor
1. End Bell Fastners
2. Shaft Key & Keyways
3. Bearing & Brushings
4. End Ball Flanges
5. Identification Plates
Brushless Motor Components 6. Wire Warnish
7. Commutators
8. Brush Holders
9. Laminations
10. Conduit Connection Box
11. Magnets (Ferrites)

Brush Type Motor Components Images courtesy of Hernon Adhesives & Sealents
(http://www.hernonmfg.com/electricmotor.htm)
Parts of a Motor

Images courtesy of How Stuff Works

(http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor3.htm)
How It Works
• When electric current passes
through a coil in a magnetic field,
the magnetic force produces a
torque which turns the motor.

• Force in Motor:
F=ILB
F = Force
B = Magnetic Field
L = Length of Conductor
I = Current in Conductor

• Torque in Motor:
T = IBA sin θ
A = LW
L = Length of Winding
W = Width of Winding

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor)
 Motor Types

E le c t r ic
M o to r

AC DC H y b r id

Perm an en t S y n c h ro n o u s B r u s h le s s V a r ia b l e
I n d u c t io n S y n ch ro n o u s Shunt Com pound S e r ie s Phase Loc ked S tep p ers
M ag net DC F re q u e n cy
Loop

M o v in g C o il

B ask et W eav e
S in g le / In v e r t e r E le c t r o n i c Pe rm an e n t
P o ly p h a s e S in g le P h a s e A C -D C S p lit F ie ld S y n ch ro n o u s I n d u c t io n R e lu c t a n c e S m a ll A n g le
P o ly p h a s e D C T o rq u e r
D r iv e n C o m m u n ic a t io n M agn et
C o n v e n t io n a l
C o n s t r u c t io n
W o u n d F ie ld W o un d R o tor Sta to r C o n tro l R e lu c t a n c e

P erm an en t M agn et P erm an en t M agn et R o tor C o n tro l P erm an en t

W ound M agn et
S q u ir r e l C a g e S h a d e d P o le C a p a c it o r
R o to r R e lu c t a n c e

H y st e r e s is

C a p a c it o r S t a r t M u lt ip le S p e e d
P o le S w it c h in g
T w o C a p a c it o r

P e r m a n e n t S p lit
C a p a c it o r
 Brushless DC Motor

• No Commutators

• Position of Coils with respect to the magnetic field is

sensed electronically.

• Current is commutated through electronic switches to

appropriate phases.
How it Works

• Halls Sensors sense the position

of the coils

• The Decoder Circuit turns

appropriate switches on and off

• The voltage through the specific

coils turns the motor

Images courtesy of Servo Magnetics

(http://www.servomag.com/flash/2-pole/2pole-bldc-motor.html)
 Advantages
• Increased Reliablilty & Efficiency

• Longer Life

• Elimination of Sparks from Commutator

• Reduced Friction

• Faster Rate of Voltage & Current

• Precision Voltage & Current Applied to Field Coils

 Applications
• Low Power
– Consumer Electronics
– Medical Field

• High Power
– Industrial Machinery
– Vehicles
– Airplanes
 Disadvantages

• Requires Complex Drive Circuitry

• Requires additional Sensors

• Higher Cost

• Some designs require manual labor (Hand wound

Stator Coils)
 Useful Links
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor

• http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor3.htm

• http://www.hernonmfg.com/electricmotor.htm

• http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

• http://www.servomag.com/flash/2-pole/2pole-bldc-motor.html

• http://www.engineersedge.com/motors/brushless_dc_motor.htm

• http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/application.jsp?
nodeId=02nQXGrrlPY7r803B5