Pulse-width modulation

Abstract: This paper investigates the acoustic noise radiated from two nominally identical induction motors when fed from sinusoidal, and asymmetric regular sampling subharmonic and space-vector pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters. The theory for analyzing the noise spectrum is developed further to account for the interaction between the motor and the drive. It is shown that manufacturing tolerances can result in significant differences in the noise level emitted from nominally identical motors, and that mechanical resonances can result in extremely high noise emissions. Such resonances can be induced by stator and rotor slot air-gap field harmonics due to the fundamental component of current, and by the interaction between the airgap field harmonics produced by the fundamental and the PWM harmonic currents. The significance of the effect of PWM strategy on the noise is closely related to the mechanical resonance with vibration mode order zero, while the PWM strategy will be critical only if the dominant cause of the emitted noise is the interaction of the fundamental air-gap field and PWM harmonics.

Abstract: This paper presents an optimal voltage-balancing compensator for a specific modulation technique applied to a neutral-point-clamped converter. The technique uses two modulation signals per phase, and it is called double-signal pulsewidth modulation. It completely eliminates low-frequency oscillations in the neutral-point voltage. However, it does not provide natural voltage balancing; therefore, a compensation loop is required. The proposed control generates a feedback compensation signal that correctly modifies the three-phase modulation signals. The optimal compensation signal is calculated by a dynamic limiter according to the intrinsic limitations of the system related to the variability range of the modulation signals. It significantly improves the voltage balancing under all operating conditions of the converter. In addition, this compensation strategy does not increase the switching frequencies of the power devices. The algorithm is tested and verified using both simulation and experimentation.

Abstract: Employing synchronous optimal pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques permits operating the PWM inverter of medium-voltage drives at very low switching frequency. The switching losses of the power semiconductor devices are thus reduced. The benefit is that a given inverter produces higher fundamental power. The optimal pulse patterns are determined by offline calculation, assuming steady-state operation of the drive machine. Dynamic modulation errors and high overcurrents, as a consequence, are therefore encountered when the operating conditions change. To overcome this problem, the harmonic components of the stator flux linkage vector are subjected to closed-loop control. The target trajectory is derived from the respective pulse pattern in use, while the actual stator flux trajectory is estimated. The approach is insensitive to parameter variations. It eliminates excessive transients when the operating conditions change. Experimental results obtained from an industrial 1-MVA 4.16-kV three-level inverter ac drive are presented

Abstract: A generalized optimal pulsewidth modulation (PWM) technique applicable to multilevel inverters for low-switching-frequency control of medium-voltage high-power industrial ac drives is presented. Proposed synchronous optimal PWM method allows setting the maximum switching frequency to a low value without compromising the harmonic distortion of machine currents. Low switching frequency reduces the switching losses of the power semiconductor devices, resulting in higher inverter power output and efficiency. The proposed optimization results in low harmonic distortion at low switching frequency. Experimental results of a five-level inverter drive using optimal PWM are presented.