Hybrid Open-Circuit Fault Detection Algorithm for Two-Level Three-Phase Automotive Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine Drives

Interior permanent magnet synchronous machine drives in Electric Vehicles operate in extremely harsh conditions, and open-circuit faults can be common. The incorporation of a fast and accurate fault determination algorithm is of great interest to protect the system, driving it into fail-safe mode, or even triggering a fault-tolerant strategy. This work considers the wide operating conditions of an electric vehicle, ranging from standstill to very high speeds, and from light to heavy load conditions. A novel hybrid detection and diagnosis algorithm that merges various techniques is proposed to accurately detect and diagnose open-circuit faults in the automotive context. Simulations that verify the correctness of the proposal are provided using a high fidelity drive model.