DEVELOPMENT OF A SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROTARY LOAD DRIVEN BY ELECTRIC MOTORS VIA MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL CLUTCH

Abstract

In this research, a new method to control speed of a rotary load driven by electric motors via magneto-rheological clutch (MR clutch) is proposed and realyzed. Firstly, the configuration of a motor speed control system using MR clutch is proposed. The MR clutch configuration is then proposed and mathematically modelled based on Bingham-plastic rheological model of MR fluid. An optimal designed of the MR clutch is then conducted to find out the optimal geometric dimensions of the clutch that can transform a required torque with minimum mass. Based on optimal results, a prototype of the MR clutch is then manufactured and its performance characteristics are experimentally investigated. A controller is then designed to control the output speed of the system. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed motor speed control system, experimental results of the system are obtained and presented with discussions.