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Calculate PM brushed motor

The calculation method will be explained by the hand of an example case. The user input is given and a suitable motor plus transmission is randomly picked. For this motor configuration the results will be calculated as is done by specAmotor. The motor datasheet is given in table 2. The transmission parameters are given in table 3. The user has given the next workpoint:

The Motor Datasheet

Rth1 and Rth2 are provided in table 2 which indicates that the elaborate thermal model is applied. This model is shown in figure 1. In formula 2 and 3 the formulas are derived for resp. the winding and the motor housing temperature.

picture of detailed thermal model for PM brushed motor description of symbols for detailed thermal model for PM brushed motor

Figure 1 Detailed thermal model for PM brushed motor

When there is a thermal balance (the temperature does not change anymore) the temperatures can be determined as described in formula 1 and 2. The formules are valif for a detailed thermal model as given in figure 1.

For a PM brushed motor the following formulas are valid for the resistance R and motor constant k.

The transmission parameters

The transmission parameters are given in table 3.

Workpoint table

In table 4 the Workpoint tabel is shown as it will be provided in the search results. The quantities that are given in table 4 will be calculated hereunder. The user gave the workpoint as given in tabel 1, notice that these values return in table 4.

Calculation motor load Tmotor and current I

A transmission is being used (see table 3) so the workpoint must be translated in a load on the motor axis.

The calculation is as follows:

The parameters i and η (the efficiency) are parameters from the transmission (see table 3). kend is the motor constant at the end temperature of the windings. This value is given in the dissipation table (table 5) and calculated later on.

Calculation voltage

Because the given workpoint does not have an acceleration the voltage U is calculated as follows:

Formula for U

The values Rend and kend are given in table 5 and will be calculated later on.

Calculation maximum current

Ilimit is the maximum current for the motor for a given speed ω and duty cycle DC. At this current the maximum allowed winding temperature is reached, for the given motor this maximum temperature is Θmax=155 oC=428 K (see table 2).

Ilimit in general is smaller than the maximum current because usually no thermal effects are taken into account when determining the maximum current. The choice for the workpoint around the maxium allowed temperature is not a smart thing to do, so Ilimit is a limit that must be avoided. The ratio between the calculated current I and Ilimit is a unit for the safety margin applied.

Ilimit = 1.448 A (table 4) and filling in this value in the formula for dissipatoin and formula 4 should yield the given maximum temperature Θmax= 428 K again. See this calculation:


Pfric is given in table 5 (shown as Pmech, motor). The calculated maximum temperature is equal to the given value so this proves that Ilimit in table 3 is correct.

Dissipation table

The dissipation table is given in table 5.

All sources that contribute in the dissipation are shown. Also the temperature of the windings and the motor housing is given and the resistance R and motor constant k at the end temperature (the temperature at thermal equilibrium).

Calculation of R and k

The resistance R and the motor constant k can be determined according to formula 3 and 4 when the temperature is known. This is calculated hereunder, the values match those of table 5.

Calculation of the sources of dissipation and input and output power

The sources of dissipation are shown in figure 2.
Figure 2 Power distribution in an electric motor

Figure 2 Power distribution in an electric motor

The required values are calculated hereunder, the values for U and I are provided by table 4:

These values matche those of table 5. As a check the sum of the sources plus the output power can be determined, that should be equal to the input power of Pin=12.68 W. This also proves to be correct:

Calculation of the temperatures

The temperatures are not validated yet, but now that all quantities are known this is just a small step. Formula 1 and 2 filled in yield:

These values are the same as in table 5 so from this can be concluded that all values are correct.

Load on motorside

In figure 3 a torque-speed characteristic is given from the motor as described in table 2. Also the workpoint is given as experienced by the motor, the reduced workpoint (ω;T)=(465.1 rad/s; 0.0634 Nm) as given in table 4.

Figure 3 Load on motorside

Figure 3 Load on motorside

The torque-speed characteristic indicates the working area, which is enclosed by a line indicating the maximum torque, a line indicating maximum voltage Umax and a line for maximum speed. The workpoint lies within this area.

The maximum torque in figure 3 is determined by Imax=3.76 A (or 0.264 Nm given k at surrounding temperature), the maximum speed is ωmax=628 rad/s. It be noticed that figure 3 is determined for a motor temperature which is equal to the surround temperature.

The black line in figure 3 is the thermal limit and indicates the maximum continously allowed current at which the motor temperature reaches its maximum temperature of 428K or 155 oC (from table 2).

Load on loadside

In figure 4 the torque-speed characteristic is given of the motor as experienced at the output side of the transmission. Also the workpoint is shown as experienced by the user in table 1 (ω;T)=(125.7 rad/s; 0.2 Nm).

Using a transmission on a motor will alter the working area of the motor. The maximum allowed torque will alter reversely proportional to i (see table 3) and thus become larger. The speed will alter proportional to i and thus become smaller. The steepness S (see table 2) is the line that indicates the orientation of the voltage and is quadratically proportional to i and will thus become much steeper.

Figure 4 Load on loadside

Figure 4 Load on loadside

In figure 4 two lines are shown (light red and dark red) that differ somewhat in position. The difference is explained by the friction of the motor and the transmission. The light red line gives the 'netto' woring area on the loadside; this means that the friction of the motor and the transmission are subtracted from the theoretically available torque. Friction on the motor axis or in the transmission after all will decrease the netto torque available for driving a load.