Search

The output current of PWM inverters may contain low-frequency harmonics due to nonidealities, such as fluctuating dc voltage and dead-time. Low-frequency harmonics are detrimental to the inverter's current controller performance as well as its operation. They increase losses, cause synchronization problems in a grid-connected inverter, and cause torque pulsations in motors. Reducing low-frequency harmonics through conventional means require a big and expensive filter. In this article, a method to reduce low-frequency current harmonics is proposed. This method uses a virtual impedance, which is a controller block that mimics the behavior of a real impedance. Because it is virtual, it does not have physical drawbacks to the system, such as volume, weight, and losses. It can be designed only to affect the disturbance signals and to assume characteristics unlike a real impedance. It can also be added as a plug-in block to an already existing controller, saving a significant amount of design effort. Simulation and experimental results show a decrease of current THD to almost 1/3 of the original THD when no virtual impedance is used, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the total PWM-induced power losses in interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines excited by wide bandgap (WBG)-based voltage-source inverters with different pulsewidth modulation (PWM) schemes and a wide range of switching frequencies. The PWM current ripple characteristics are predicted and compared using an accurate analytical model. Three enhanced power loss estimation models are utilized to estimate the PWM-induced power losses in each of three major machine materials: the stator form-wound windings, the stator and rotor iron cores, and the permanent magnets in the rotor cavities. The variation trend of each loss component versus PWM frequency and modulation scheme is provided. Experiments have validated the model accuracy in two IPM machines designed for traction applications. Both measured and predicted results suggest that increasing the PWM frequency is beneficial for suppressing the PWM-induced power losses in IPM machines. In conjunction with the reduction in machine-related power losses, it has also been demonstrated that a higher PWM frequency in IPM drives with WBG-based inverter exhibits the appealing potential for improving the system-level efficiency in traction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical approach to size a dc-link capacitor for a three-phase current-controlled voltage-source inverter used for a permanent magnet synchronous motor is presented in this article considering the dc-link ripple voltage and capacitor ripple current. The analytical method derived in this article shows the variation of the dc-link voltage ripple with the change of the power factor and the modulation index. This analysis can be applied to determine the maximum possible ripple voltage for a given capacitor or the minimum capacitance needed to keep the voltage ripple under a limit. Then, current ripple analysis is used to determine the root-mean-square capacitor ripple current taking account of the thermal duty cycles of the application. Finally, capacitor life estimation analysis is used using the operating condition, thermal duty cycle, and ripple current to determine the capacitor end life for a given application. The research presents a sequential process to select a dc-link capacitor accounting for the electrical and thermal requirement of the system. The analysis is verified by simulation and experimental results, where the effect of components’ parasitic on the voltage and current ripple is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a buck converter with a large step-down voltage conversion ratio, reduced ripple in inductor current and low semiconductor voltage stress. The proposed converter produces a lower output voltage at a sufficiently higher duty ratio compared to the conventional buck converter. The step-down voltage conversion ratio is modified by a series-parallel transition of two identical capacitors of a switch-capacitor cell. Two parallelly placed switches and two cross-connected identical capacitors are utilized to design the cell. An extra inductor is placed at the input side to oppose the sudden change in input current due to the series-parallel transition of the two identical capacitors. Therefore, two inductors are required to design the converter. These two inductors are coupled directly. The modified voltage conversion ratio reduces the ripple in inductor currents and output voltage. Direct coupling between the two inductors helps to further reduce the ripple in inductor currents and output voltage. The operating principle, analysis of ripple in inductor currents, and ripple in output voltage are discussed. The analysis of small-signal modeling is carried out and a voltage mode PI-controller is designed to enable the closed-loop operation. Finally, the proposed converter is implemented in hardware and the performance of the proposed converter is verified experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an improved estimation model to predict the additional iron loss due to pulsewidth modulation (PWM) switching in interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines. The input current including the predicted PWM-induced current ripple is fed to two-dimensional (2-D) finite-element analysis to calculate the PWM-induced flux ripple distribution in the analyzed machine. A special frequency decomposition method is proposed to separate the predicted flux ripple into 1x and 2x PWM frequency components. Combining these results with the modified dynamic Jiles–Atherton model, the PWM-induced iron loss is calculated incorporating the impact of the actual flux ripple waveshape and the lamination steel's nonlinear magnetic characteristics. Experiments have been conducted to evaluate the prediction accuracy and investigate the impact of several factors on PWM-induced core losses (i.e., both iron and magnet loss) in IPM machines. These results demonstrate that the model offers promising estimation accuracy over a wide range of machine and inverter operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved analytical model for estimating the high-frequency current ripple of interior permanent magnet synchronous machines due to pulsewidth modulation (PWM) switching. The proposed model accounts for the impact of slotting effect, magnetic saturation, and cross-coupling between the $d$ - and $q$ -axis. The model is subsequently used to investigate several factors that influence the PWM-induced current ripple. These include the PWM switching frequency, fundamental frequency (i.e., machine speed), dc-bus voltage, current control angle (i.e., γ angle), and the excitation current amplitude (i.e., saturation level). Experiments have been conducted to verify the analytical prediction results. These results show that the analytical model can predict the PWM-induced current ripple waveshape very well for many operating conditions and accurately estimate its rms value over a complete fundamental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Lyaupnov-based finite control set model predictive direct torque control for the permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) is proposed. In the proposed control scheme, the finite control set prediction and the Lyapunov theory are combined to minimize the torque ripple. The eight voltage vectors of the two-level converter are utilized as a finite control set for the torque prediction of the PMSM. A cost function considering the torque error, the maximum torque per ampere operation and the current limitation is introduced. Comparing to the conventional finite control set predictive control, the dominant part of the cost function is utilized as a Lyapunov function to estimate the duty cycle of each voltage vector. An optimum voltage can be obtained by the optimum voltage vector from the eight vectors and their duty cycles. A small sampling frequency and a fixed switching frequency can be realized when compared to the conventional finite set model predictive control. In the end, the simulation and experimental results validate the performance of the proposed control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-phase pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) converter is one of the most widely used topologies for power conversion. In order to design PWM methods, the influence of PWM methods on the current ripple is needed. This paper studies the current ripple of a three-phase PWM converter with general PWM methods for the design and control of this kind of converter. The current ripple is analyzed with eight different Thevenin equivalent circuits for the eight different voltage vectors. Then, the current-ripple slope and effective time could be achieved for every period. The current ripple could be predicted with both peak and rms values. Analytical predicted results show that discontinuous PWM could generate obviously bigger current ripples than space vector PMW for both peak and rms values with the same conditions. Simulation and experiments are built to verify the analytical results, proving that the theoretical prediction is valid. This analysis provides the basis for the design and control of the PWM method for converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An output current-ripple analysis of five-phase pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) inverters under sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal operations is presented in this paper. A general expression of output current ripple of five-phase PWM inverters under nonsinusoidal operation is first derived. Under sinusoidal operation, it is found that the optimum reference signal that results in minimum output current ripple is a sinusoidal reference signal. Under nonsinusoidal operation, however, it is found that fifth harmonic injection can be used to reduce the output current ripple. Moreover, fifth harmonic injection is useful to increase the maximum modulation index of five-phase PWM inverter. Simulation and experimental results are included to show the validity of the derived expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A powerful simulation method, coupled analysis between finite element analysis (FEA) and circuit simulation, has been proposed. Such coupled analysis can take into account not only the spatial harmonics of the motor but also pulse width modulation and control logic effects including voltage saturation. Several comparisons between experimental and FEA results including torque ripple are shown. These results showed the coupled analysis was very effective to evaluate not only current and torque ripple but also voltage and power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytic capacitors are used in nearly all adjustable-speed drives, and they are one of the components most prone to failure. The main failure mechanisms include loss of electrolyte through outgassing and chemical changes to the electrolyte and oxide layer. All the degradation mechanisms are exacerbated by ripple current heating. Since the equivalent series resistance of electrolytic capacitors is a very strong function of frequency it must be properly modeled to accurately calculate the power loss. In this paper, a method to reduce the ripple current in a constant Volts/Hertz pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM)/pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) converter driving an induction motor is investigated. The dc-bus voltage amplitude is reduced in proportion to speed by a buck or current stiff rectifier and the PWM modulation index is maintained at a high level to achieve a reduced ripple current below base speed. By comparison with a diode-bridge-fed PWM voltage stiff inverter, it is shown that the PAM/PWM mode of operation can lead to a significant reduction in capacitor power loss leading to increased capacitor lifetime or decreased capacitor size. The capacitor heating is analyzed using numerical and analytical techniques. Experimental results are provided to verify the analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]