-The main purpose of this paper is to describe a DTC (direct torque control) method for four-switch brushless dc motor (BLDCM) drive. In the method, a novel voltage space vector modulation scheme, an optimal switching table, and a flux observation method are proposed. Eight voltage vectors are summarized, which are selected to control BLDCM in SVPWM pattern, and an optimal switching table is proposed to improve the torque distortion caused by midpoint current of the split capacitors. Unlike conventional flux observers, this observer does not require speed adaptation and is not susceptible to speed estimation errors, especially, at low speed. Global asymptotic stability of the flux observer is guaranteed by the Lyapunov stability analysis. DC-offset effects are mitigated by introducing a PI component in the observer gains. This method alleviates the undesired current and torque distortion which is caused by uncontrollable phase. The correctness and feasibility of the method are proved by simulation and experimental results.

A novel inverter fault-tolerant control scheme is proposed to drive brushless DC motor. A fault-tolerant inverter and its three fault-tolerant schemes (i.e., phase A fault-tolerant, phase B fault-tolerant, and phase C fault-tolerant) are analyzed. Eight voltage vectors are summarized and a voltage vector selection table is used in the control scheme to improve the midpoint current of the split capacitors. A stator flux observer is proposed. The observer can improve flux estimation, which does not require any speed adaptation mechanism and is immune to speed estimation error. Global stability of the flux observer is guaranteed by the Lyapunov stability analysis. A novel stator resistance estimator is incorporated into the sensorless drive to compensate for the effects of stator resistance variation. DC offset effects are mitigated by introducing an integral component in the observer gains. Finally, a control system based on the control scheme is established. Simulation and experiment results show that the method is correct and feasible.