Induction motor control

A method for optimizing the electrical efficiency of an induction motor comprising the steps of:

• (a) starting said motor by applying an alternating line voltage thereto;
• (b) providing for a time delay to allow said motor to reach a steady state;
• (c) measuring and storing a first reference current peak magnitude of said motor;
• (d) creating an incremental phase gap in said line voltage;
• (e) measuring and storing said motor's subsequent reference current peak magnitude;
• (f) comparing said subsequent current peak magnitude with said first reference current peak magnitude;
• (g) incrementally increasing the width of said phase gap if and only if said subsequent reference current peak magnitude is not more than a predetermined amount greater than said first reference current peak magnitude;
• (h) repeating steps (c) through (f) for subsequent reference current peak magnitudes until a subsequent reference current peak magnitude becomes more than said predetermined amount greater than its immediately-previous reference current peak magnitude;
• (i) incrementally decreasing the width of said phase gap;
• and
• (j) repeating steps (c) through (i) continuously as said motor is subjected to varying mechanical loads.

A system for controlling an induction motor comprising:

• A.C. electrical power source means
• incremental electronic phase angle controller means disposed between, and electrically connected to, said power source means and said motor;
• current peak sensor means, responsive to current peaks in the electrical connection between said phase angle controller means and said motor;
• and
• system controller means, responsive to the output of said current peak sensor means, for providing an electrical control signal to said phase angle controller means;
• whereby a phase gap is introduced into the voltage signal of said electrical power signal and is incrementally increased in width for each half cycle of said A.C. electrical power source until said current peak sensor means detects an increase more than a predetermined amount in said current peak with respect to an immediately-preceding current peak, whereupon said system controller means signals said phase angle controller means to incrementally reduce said phase gap, and whereby said system controller means in conjunction with said phase angle controller means and said current peak sensing means, continuously monitors and optimizes the electrical efficiency of said motor under varying mechanical loads.