Permanent Magnet Brushless D.C. Motors

PERMANENT MAGNET BRUSHLESS D.C. MOTORS

INTRODUCTION

Conventional DC motors are highly efficient and their characteristics make them suitable for use as servomotors. However, their only drawbacks that they need a commutator and brushes which are subject to wear and require maintenance.

When the functions of commutator and brushes were implemented by solid state switches, maintenance free motors were realized. These motors are known as brushless DC motors. The function of magnets is the same in both brushless motor and the dc commutator motor. The motor obvious advantage of brushless configuration is the removal of brushes. Brush maintenance is no longer required, and many problems associated with brushes are removed.

An advantage of the brushless configuration in which the rotor inside the stator is that more cross sectional area is available for the power or armature winding. At the same time conduction of heat through the frame is providing greater specific torque. The efficiency is likely to be higher that of a commutator motor of equal size and the absence of brush friction help further in this regard.