Motors and Motor Control Circuits

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/motors-circuits-design

Introduction

### Course Review: Motors and Motor Control Circuits **Introduction** If you’re an aspiring engineer or a professional looking to deepen your understanding of motors and motor control circuits, the “Motors and Motor Control Circuits” course on Coursera is an excellent option to consider. Offered by the University of Colorado Boulder as part of their Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, this course is the second installment in a specialization series focused on embedding sensors and motors. Building on the foundational knowledge from the first course, "Sensors and Sensor Circuits," this course promises a comprehensive exploration of motor technology in just a few modules. --- **Course Overview** Designed for both learners seeking academic credit and those pursuing practical knowledge, the course lays out a robust syllabus covering the fundamentals and intricacies of AC and DC motors. The meticulous structure ensures that participants grasp not only the theoretical underpinnings but also gain valuable hands-on experience through lab exercises. **Syllabus Breakdown** The course content is organized into modules, each focusing on critical aspects of motor operation and control: 1. **AC Motor Designs**: In this module, you will dive into AC induction motors, where you’ll learn about single and three-phase types along with torque speed curves. This knowledge is crucial for optimizing motor performance based on electrical parameters. Case studies, such as the split-phase motor found in clothing dryers, will help contextualize motor applications. 2. **AC Motor Control**: Here, the focus shifts to understanding AC motor specifications and adherence to national and international standards. You’ll explore the intricacies of AC motor control components, ultimately leading to training on variable speed drives, which are vital for precision motor control. 3. **DC Motors**: In the third module, you’ll be exposed to a variety of DC motor types, including brushed and brushless motors. This section covers everything from shunt wound to stepper motors, with practical lab experiences that let you measure DC motor speed and analyze a paper shredder teardown. Understanding the commutation methods and control mechanisms of DC motors is key for both design and application. 4. **DC Motor Control and Stepper Motors**: This module emphasizes hands-on learning with lab exercises focused on DC motor control followed by a deep understanding of stepper motors. You’ll learn how to actuate rotary sensors and compare DC and AC motors' attributes, equipping you with a rounded perspective on motor selection for various applications. 5. **Course Projects**: The final module brings the previous lessons to life through lab work, ensuring that you can apply your new knowledge in practical scenarios, cementing the concepts learned throughout the course. --- **Why Take This Course?** 1. **Practical Knowledge and Experience**: Hands-on lab exercises are integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to apply theory in real-world scenarios, an essential aspect of engineering education. 2. **Well-Structured Learning Path**: This course progresses logically from AC to DC motors, leaving no stone unturned. The prerequisite of the previous course ensures that all participants are equipped with the basic knowledge needed to succeed. 3. **Accredited Learning**: For those looking to earn a degree, this course is backed by CU Boulder and can be taken for academic credit, making it a worthwhile investment. 4. **Comprehensive Curriculum**: From understanding motor specifications to implementing control systems, the scope of this course is expansive, catering to varying interests and career aspirations in the electrical engineering field. --- **Final Recommendation** I highly recommend the “Motors and Motor Control Circuits” course on Coursera for anyone interested in delving deeper into motor technologies. Whether you are a student pursuing engineering or a professional seeking to upgrade your skills, this course holds significant value. The combination of theoretical knowledge, hands-on labs, and an accredited platform promises a transformative educational experience. By completing this course, you will not only understand the dynamics of motors but also be well-prepared for applying this knowledge in practical and innovative ways in the field of electrical engineering.

Syllabus

AC Motor Designs

In module 1 you will learn principles of operation of AC induction motors, both single and 3-phase types. You well then learn how to interpret data from torque speed curves, and how to optimize data in these curves based on electrical resistance, inductance, and capacitance. Then you will learn about different types of single phase motors, featuring a video analysis of a split phase motor used in a clothing dryer. You will also learn about typical applications for single phase motors, which will assist you in picking the right one for an application.

In module 2 you will learn the details of AC motor specifications and enclosures, as well as how these details are governed by national and international design standards. Then you will learn a detailed methodology for researching design requirements for AC motors, and how to use these requirements to pick the right motor for your needs. Afterwards, you will have lessons on AC motor control components and systems, both manual and automatic. This will culminate in training for you on AC variable speed drives.

In module 3 you will learn principles of DC motors, traditional brushed motors, as well as electronically driven brushless motors. We will discuss shunt wound, series wound, compound wound, servo, stepper, and torque motors, with detailed explanation of how commutation and control is implemented in these designs. We will have a lab exercise for you on DC motor speed measurement. We will have another video analysis for you, this time featuring teardown of a paper shredder. Then you will learn a detailed methodology for researching design requirements for DC motors, and how to use these requirements to pick the right motor for your needs.

In module 4 you will start off with another lab exercise, this time gaining hands-on experience with DC motor control. Then, we will illustrate a simplified stepper motor drive, so you will understand the basic principles involved in stepper motor control. Next, you will do a deep dive into stepper motor specs, operation and commercial driver chips and packages. You will then do another lab exercise, this time on actuating a rotary sensor. We end the module with a comparison of DC vs. AC motors, so you take away a core understanding of their pros and cons.

In this module you will perform your lab work for the Course. There will be two labs