Motor & generator operation at widely variable speeds is needed in various applications but hybrid and electric vehicle (HEV) stand out today, as quite a few companies are launching this year their mass production of HEVs. The quest for better starter-generators is far from ended, though. The present review paper unfolds a comparative critical evaluation of various starter-generators and their control for HEV. Induction, interior PM synchronous, transverse-flux PM synchronous, switched reluctance, together with claw-pole and biaxial excitation PM synchronous (BEGA) configurations with their control are all considered in system evaluations.

The paper presents technical issues which integrated sensors must address to be implemented in the next generation of power electronics and motor drives. The underlying goal of the sensor integration will be to improve reliability of power conversion systems while making the power converter and motor drive become the primary source of diagnostic signals for the application. The paper focuses on design methodologies that will allow this integration to succeed in meeting the technical demands for both reliability and for application level diagnostics.

This paper presents a description of the point collocation method and its application to the electromagnetic field computation. The interpolation scheme is based on the fast moving least square reproducing kernel approximation. In the method, the integration cell is not required and the essential boundary conditions can be enforced directly. Numerical simulations on 1-D and 2-D problems are carried out to validate the method. It is found that computational efficiency is higher than the general mesh-free methods.

In this paper, multi-object optimization based on a progressive quadratic response surface method (PQRSM) and a time stepping finite element method (FEM) is proposed. The new PQRSM and FEM are able to decide optimal geometric and electric variables of the switched reluctance motor (SRM) with two objective functions: torque ripple minimization and average torque maximization. The result of the optimum design for SRM demonstrates improved performance of the motor and enhanced relationship between torque ripple and average torque.

This paper presents the analysis of the effects of non-uniform slots in a line start permanent magnet (LSPM) motor. For purposes of the investigation, the simple formula of $2^{nd}$resistance for rotors having different slot areas is deduced. The characteristic analysis using the formula is performed and compared with measurement results.

This paper presents a method to reduce the commutation torque ripple in a position sensorless brushless DC motor drive. To compensate the commutation torque ripple considerably, the duration of commutation must be known. The proposed method measures the duration of commutation from the terminal voltage of the motor, calculates a PWM duty ratio using the measured commutation interval to suppress the commutation torque ripple, and applies it to the calculated PWM duty ratio only during the next commutation. Experimental results show that pulsating currents and vibrations are considerably reduced when the proposed method is applied to a position sensorless brushless DC motor drive for the air-conditioner compressor.

The CCFL dimming control methods are generally used lamp current regulation or average current adjustment method feeding the CCFL inverter. Inverter operation frequency is higher than resonant frequency for safe operation. In this study, we design the half-bridge type series and parallel resonant converter circuit that switches at variable frequency modulation methods to control the output power. This method has advantages such as low EMI and reduced harmonics, and it is convenient for dimming control using a microprocessor. The validity of this study is confirmed from the simulation and experimental results.

This paper deals with a parameter estimation of the DC-DC converter system for its diagnosis. Especially, we present the results of parameter estimation for the DC-DC converter model by the system identification method. The parameter estimation for the DC-DC converter system aims at the diagnosis of its operating status. For the operating status diagnosis of the DC-DC converter system, we assume that the DC-DC converter system is an equivalent model of the Buck converter and estimate the main parameter for on-line diagnosis. In addition, for verification of an estimated parameter, we compare a bode plot of the estimated system transfer function and measurement results of the HP4194 instrument. It is a control system analyzer for system transfer function measurement. Our results confirm that the main parameter for diagnosis of the DC-DC converter system can be estimated by the system identification method and that the aging status of the system can be predicted by these results on operating status.

Inductance characteristics, torque variations and ripple according to current, and position of multi-layer buried magnet synchronous machines with field-weakening operations are presented. The rotor structure optimal design of a buried magnet synchronous machine with high performance is investigated, and optimization results and comparison among design candidates are shown. For the fast and accurate search of multiple optima, the auto-tuning niching genetic algorithm is used and a final solution is selected considering various design factors.

A novel anti-islanding method for the distributed power generation system (DPGS) is proposed in this paper. Three different islanding scenarios are explored and presented based on the analysis of real and reactive power mismatch. It is shown via investigation that islanding voltage is a function of real power alone, where its frequency is a function of both real and reactive power. Following this analysis, a robust anti-islanding algorithm is developed. The proposed algorithm continuously perturbs ($\pm$5%) the reactive power supplied by the DPGS while simultaneously monitoring the utility voltage and frequency. In the event of islanding, a measurable frequency deviation takes place, upon which the real power of the DPGS is further reduced to 80%. A drop in voltage positively confirms islanding and the DPGS is then safely disconnected. This method of control is shown to be robust: it is able to detect islanding under resonant loads and is also fast acting (operable in one cycle). Possible islanding conditions are simulated and verified through analysis. Experimental results on a 0.5kW fuel cell system connected to a utility grid are discussed.