This paper reviews sensorless algorithms for both induction motors and permanent magnet motors using the active flux model, such that any design applicable for non-salient pole ac motors can also be included in the review framework. The proposed review framework classifies all sensorless algorithms following a five-layer hierarchy abbreviated as O-I-M-A-I, resulting in four main categories as i) inherently sensorless position estimation, ii) non-inherently sensorless position estimation, iii) post-position-estimation speed estimation, and iv) speed estimation for indirect field orientation. Various ac motor models are derived by assuming a constant active flux amplitude, based on which seven generic sensorless algorithms are summarized in a tutorial. Recommendations are made for sensorless drive designers to begin with inherently sensorless method such that the two-way coupling between position estimation and speed estimation is avoided. Finally, classical induction motor model results from time-varying active flux amplitude and slip relation, for which a state transformation is recommended for achieving global stability.

This paper designs parameter adaptation algorithms for online simultaneous identification of a two-parameter sigmoid inverter model for compensating inverter nonlinearity to reduce the voltage error in flux estimation for a position sensorless motor drive. The inverter model has two parameters, a2 and a3, where a2 is “plateau voltage”, and a3 is a shape parameter that mainly accounts for the stray capacitor effect. Parameter a3 is identified by the (6k ± 1)-th order harmonics in measured current. Parameter a2 is identified by the amplitude mismatch of the estimated active flux. It is found that the classic linear flux estimator, i.e., the hybrid of voltage model and current model, cannot be used for a2 identification. This paper proposes to use a saturation function based nonlinear flux estimator to build an effective indicator for a2 error. The coupled identifiability of the two parameters is revealed and analyzed, which was not seen in literature. The concept of the low current region where the two-way coupling between a2 and a3 occurs is established. In theory, it is suggested to stop the inverter identification in the low current region. However, the experimental results in which dc bus voltage variation and load change are imposed, have shown the effectiveness of the proposed online inverter identification and compensation method, even in low current region.