Six-phase AC induction motor drive system and method therefor

A method of controlling a six phase alternating current induction motor having a plurality of poles (P) and a stator with a core having a plurality of teeth (T) with the number of teeth divided by six times the number of poles (T/(6×P)) equaling an integer number, the core having first and second groups of three-phase stator windings wound thereon in a short pitch winding pattern, the first group of three-phase windings is separated spatially by 30 electrical degrees from the second group of three-phase windings;

• applying a power from a first power supply to the first group of three-phase windings;
• applying power from a second power supply to the second group of three-phase windings;
• shifting by 30 electrical degrees in time the power applied from the second power supply to the second group of three-phase windings with respect to the power applied to the first group of three-phase winding by the first power supply;
• configuring the first and second power supplies to receive signals from respective identical pulse width modulator generators;
• and
• configuring the respective first and second pulse width modulator generators to receive angle and voltage commands from one controller.

A drive system adapted to be coupled to a motor, wherein the motor comprises a six phase alternating current induction motor having a plurality of poles (P), a stator with a core having a plurality of teeth (T) with the number of teeth divided by 6 times the number of poles (T/(6×P)) equaling an integer number, the core having first and second groups of three-phase stator windings wound thereon in a short pitch winding pattern, the second group of three-phase windings is separated spatially by 30 electrical degrees from the first group of three-phase windings, the drive system comprises:

• a first power supply configured to be connected to the first group of three-phase windings;
• a second power supply configured to be connected to the second group of three-phase windings;
• wherein the second power supply provides power to the second group of three-phase windings that is shifted by 30 electrical degrees in time with respect to the power provided by the first power supply;
• wherein the first and second power supplies receive signals from respective identical pulse width modulator generators;
• and
• wherein the respective first and second pulse width modulator generators receive angle and voltage commands from one controller.