Reduction of High-Amplitude Cogging Torque Response in a 12,000 Horsepower Synchronous Drive Motor
A new 12,000 horsepower adjustable speed drive system has recently been installed in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel. The new system consists of a salient pole synchronous motor powered by a 12-pulse cycloconverter adjustable speed drive. During system commissioning the drive line torsional vibrations were measured with strain gages and a telemetry-based data acquisition system. Torque measurements were taken during transient and steady-state operations at speeds where the drive motor’s pulsating torques matched the drive line’s torsional natural frequency. Measured peak torsional vibrations during steady-state operation were comparable to values predicted by a finite element model forced response analysis. An unexpected oscillating torque occurred during low speed operations where the motor’s cogging torque matched the torsional natural frequency. The oscillating torque was higher than the mean torque at this speed, and the motor’s electrical flux was tailored in this speed range to reduce the response to acceptable levels. A half-power bandwidth analysis of the torsional resonances concluded that the torsional critical damping ratio of the driveline was approximately 0.7%.