Solutions for Torque and Speed Measurement on Electric Machine Controllers Test Benches

Resumo

The continuous search for improvement in electromechanical developments requires a clear understanding of the torque measurement required in each application. The decisions made will have a profound impact on the quality and cost of the results. This article presents the principles normally used for sensing mechanical torque on a shaft and the reasons for the widespread use of strain gauges. The importance of differentiation between static and dynamic measurements and the current technologies used in each case are discussed. The relevant factors that define a transducer are described and a comparative analysis between them is carried out, to then examine the possible mounting methods, with their benefits and limitations. Finally, different low-cost solutions are proposed for the design of the torque and speed measurement section without sacrificing system performance, for different test benches for electrical machine controllers, including the necessary signal conditioning electronics. The article aims to be a tutorial compendium of topics to study to successfully implement a test bench without damaging the torque transducer or introducing measurement errors, since the information on these topics is scattered and it is difficult to access knowledge of the selection criteria and project procedures.