Do brushless DC motors require a drive circuit? – Controlling brushless DC motors

As their name suggests, brushless DC motors do not have brushes. They are used in a wide variety of applications, featuring longer life and quieter operation than brushed DC motors.

However, rather than mechanical control, electronic control is needed to drive brushless DC motors. So, how is this accomplished? This page provides a simple introduction on how brushless DC motors are controlled.

Brushless DC motors are DC motors that do not require the brushes used in conventional brushed DC motors.

Brushless DC motors have the following two major advantages over brushed DC motors.

The brushes used in brushed DC motors are in continual contact with the commutator. As motor rotation causes the brushes and commutator to wear over time, they need to be replaced regularly. The associated short life and requirement for maintenance is a disadvantage of this type of electric motor. Because brushless DC motors, in contrast, do not use these consumable commutator and brushes, they have longer life, and maintenance is much less frequent. As a result, brushless DC motors have come to be used more frequently.

The fact that brushless DC motors do not use a commutator and brushes also means that the electrical and acoustic noise caused by contact between these parts are eliminated. As a result, brushless DC motors operate very quietly.

Brushless DC motors are used in a wide variety of applications that take advantage of their quiet operation, long life and low frequency of maintenance. Familiar examples include home appliances such as air conditioners, air cleaners, and refrigerators.

The motors are also found in a wide range of commercial equipment including industrial printers, vending machines, water heaters, and projectors. Together with other applications such as automobiles and large industrial machinery, brushless DC motors have become an essential part of our lives.

As noted above, rather than mechanical control, electronic control is needed to drive brushless DC motors. The reason for this can be explained by how the generation of a rotating magnetic field in brushless DC motors differs from other motors.

In order to make an electric motor rotate, you need to alternate the direction of current that flows through the motor windings, and generate a rotating magnetic field. While induction motors and other motors driven by an AC power supply can use the alternating mains voltage to achieve this, motors driven by direct current require some form of switching to alternate the direction of current flow in the motor, and thereby generate a rotating magnetic field.
In the case of brushed DC motors, this is achieved by using brushes and commutators. With brushless DC motors, however, instead of using brushes that suffer from a short operating life, the alternation of current flow and consequent generation of a rotating magnetic field is achieved by means of semiconductor switches (such as bipolar transistors or FETs), which operating life is not a major concern.

Brushless DC motors generally have three coils. The three coils are connected together at one end, so by connecting the other end of one coil to the positive pole, and that of another coil to the negative pole, causes current to flow through both of these two coils. Two semiconductor switches are connected to each coil, one of which connects to the positive pole and the other to the negative pole. This gives a total of six switches, which, when turned on and off in the correct sequence, causes the motor to rotate. The timing of this switching is determined based on rotor orientation, which is detected by a hall sensor.

In other words, turning the semiconductor switches on and off in the correct sequence generates the rotating magnetic field that causes the brushless DC motor to rotate. And thus, a drive circuit is needed to perform these sequence of steps.

Excitation sequence of brushless DC motor

Configuration of brushless DC motor drive circuit

Drive circuits are made up of the following main elements.

In this way, although they require a drive circuit, brushless DC motors have high performance as they do not have the problems of noise and short life that are an issue with brushed DC motors.

Because they do not use a commutator and brushes, driving a brushless DC motor requires electronic control rather than using a mechanical mechanism, and this is done using a drive circuit. The drive circuit is made up of a rotational position sensor, position detection circuit, logic circuit, pre-driver circuit, semiconductor switches, and a motor drive power supply. Anyone engaged in building electronic devices that incorporate brushless DC motors need a deep understanding of the role of each element. We hope that the information provided here will prove helpful.

ASPINA supplies not only standalone brushless DC motors, but also system products that incorporate drive and control systems as well as mechanical design. These are backed by comprehensive support that extends from prototyping to commercial production and after-sales service.
ASPINA can offer solutions that are tailored to suit the functions and performance demanded by a diverse range of industries, applications, and customer products, as well as your particular production arrangements.

ASPINA supports not only customers who already know their requirements or specifications, but also those who are facing problems at early stages of development.
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