9 Benefits of Brushless DC Motors You Should Know

An electric motor refers to a device that transforms electrical energy to mechanical energy through the rotation of a shaft called the rotor. Most electric motors function through the principle that when a conductor is kept in a field of magnetic force and when current flows through it, it will cause a force to be exerted upon the conductor, which controls the speed and torque of the motor.

There are several kinds of electric motors, but the most common variants are brushed DC motors and bldc motors. DC motors use a supply of Direct Current.

When it comes to a brushed DC motor, the rotor or conducting material is placed in between permanent magnets called the stator. With the flow of current via the winding of the armature, a force is exerted on the rotor. Thus, the rotor rotates at 180 degrees. To get a rotation of 360 degrees, the direction of the current is reversed following every half revolution.

In contrast, the brushless motor features a perpetual magnet as a rotor and an electromagnet as a stator. As opposed to a brushed DC motor, there is no use of carbon brushes to reverse the current’s direction to get a full rotation of 360 degrees. There is control of current via an electronic controller. Such an arrangement not only offers a solution to the problem of frequent maintenance needed to replace damaged brushes but also offers accuracy and high resolution speed control.

Brushless DC motor benefits

A brushless DC motor has many benefits which are described as follows:

1. This motor does not feature carbon brushes, which reduces frequent needs for the replacement of brushes as well as maintenance costs.
2. This motor has better efficiency and performance in comparison to brushed DC motors because of the feature of electronic control, which enables high level control over the position and speed of the said motor. The lifespan of a brushless DC motor is 6 times more than a brushed DC motor.
3. Brushes may cause sparks that result in complete burnout or short life of brushed motors. But when it comes to brushless motors, there is no issue of sparks and less opportunity of burnout because of this.
4. A brushless motor is of compact size and also offers a high ratio of torque to weight, making it ideal for several medical and robotic applications such as robotic legs and robotic arms.
5. Brushless motors generate less operational noise in comparison to other kinds of motors with the same rating. Other motors feature continual contact with brushes, which results in sparking and noise while in motion. Hence, a brushless motor is given preference when there is a need to avoid electrical noise.
6. When a modern electronic system replaces a traditional commutation system on the basis of mechanical features, it results in superior control and less opportunities for failure because of wear and tear.
7. As opposed to other motors, the brushless DC motor features low amounts of current of no-load, rendering it suitable for running at no or low load.
8. Also, a brushless DC motor offers maximum torque continually throughout the rotation, while in the case of a brushed motor, maximum torque is provided only at a specific point in the rotation. With regard to the same torque rating, the brushed motor will need a much larger magnet in comparison to a brushless DC motor. This results in a small and compact brushless DC motor that offers a high torque rating.
9. A brushless DC motor may feature a system of feedback control for controlling and monitoring the torque and speed, enabling accurate operation. This offers higher efficiency, the long life of the battery (if used), and low consumption of power.

In sum, brushless DC motors have more benefits compared to brushed DC motors, such as low maintenance and related costs. They are compact and offer high torque with superior efficiency and speed control.

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