Introduction of Brushless DC motor

　About the BLDC Motor

You have some choices when it comes to determining which motor you will need for whatever application or project you are implementing, and your choice will depend on a variety of factors. Fortunately NMB Tech has a wide variety of motor types to fit a wide range of needs. Some of the issues you will need to consider for your motor are cost, amount of power you will need and how long you need it to last. If you have a project or application where you will only need a motor for short term use, you may prefer a cheaper one that may wear out more quickly. If your job requires a motor that will last as long as possible, you will probably want to consider a BLDC motor, for reasons which will become apparent.

The Brushless DC (BLDC) motor is the ideal choice for applications that require high reliability, high efficiency, and high power-to-volume ratio. Generally speaking, a BLDC motor is considered to be a high performance motor that is capable of providing large amounts of torque over a vast speed range. BLDC motors are a derivative of the most commonly used DC motor, the brushed DC motor, and they share the same torque and speed performance curve characteristics. The major difference between the two is the use of brushes. BLDC motors do not have brushes (hence the name “brushless DC”) and must be electronically commutated.

Commutation is the act of changing the motor phase currents at the appropriate times to produce rotational torque. In a brush DC motor, the motor assembly contains a physical commutator which is moved by means of actual brushes in order to move the rotor. With a BLDC motor, electrical current powers a permanent magnet that causes the motor to move, so no physical commutator is necessary.

A BLDC motor is highly reliable since it does not have any brushes to wear out and replace. When operated in rated conditions, the life expectancy is over 10,000 hours. For long term applications, this can be a tremendous benefit. Whenever a motor breaks down or needs to be replaced, your project, or part of it, must be shut down. This costs you time and money, perhaps a great deal depending on how long it takes to replace the worn part or parts and get the application started again. Although a BLDC motor may cost more than a brushless motor, it will often more than pay for itself in the amount of work time saved.

BLDC Motor Construction and Operating Theory

To understand why a BLDC motor is so effective, it’s important to have a good understanding of how it works. There are actually two different types, with different benefits and drawbacks. While either one will probably be effective for most jobs, you may wish to familiarize yourself with both types, just in case one would be more appropriate for your project or application than the other.

Any BLDC motor has two primary parts; the rotor, the rotating part, and the stator, the stationary part. Other important parts of the motor are the stator windings and the rotor magnets.

There are two basic BLDC motor designs: inner rotor and outer rotor design.

In an outer rotor design, the windings are located in the core of the motor. The rotor magnets surround the stator windings as shown here. The rotor magnets act as an insulator, thereby reducing the rate of heat dissipation from the motor. Due to the location of the stator windings, outer rotor designs typically operate at lower duty cycles or at a lower rated current. The primary advantage of an outer rotor BLDC motor is relatively low cogging torque.

In an inner rotor design, the stator windings surround the rotor and are affixed to the motor’s housing as shown here. The primary advantage of an inner rotor construction is its ability to dissipate heat. A motor’s ability to dissipate heat directly impacts its ability to produce torque. For this reason, the overwhelming majority of BLDC motors use an inner rotor design. Another advantage of an inner rotor design is lower rotor inertia.

BLDC Motor Advantages:

If you’re still not sure whether or not this motor is right for you, here is a basic breakdown of some of the primary advantages of the BLDC motor.

• High Speed Operation – A BLDC motor can operate at speeds above 10,000 rpm under loaded and unloaded conditions.

• Responsiveness & Quick Acceleration – Inner rotor Brushless DC motors have low rotor inertia, allowing them to accelerate, decelerate, and reverse direction quickly.

• High Power Density – BLDC motors have the highest running torque per cubic inch of any DC motor.

• High Reliability – BLDC motors do not have brushes, meaning they are more reliable and have life expectancies of over 10,000 hours. This results in fewer instances of replacement or repair and less overall down time for your project.