Performance Comparison Study of Space-Vector and Modified-Carrier-Based PWM Techniques for a Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Traction Inverter Drive

A performance comparison study between lower switching loss-based space-vector pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategy for a three-level neutral-point-clamped inverter and a proposed modified-carrier-based PWM strategy is carried out for an electric vehicle propulsion application. The proposed carrier-based strategy uses single carrier and reduces the switching losses compared with the conventional carrier-based strategies by eliminating the common modulation interval between the upper and lower modulating signals. The inverter switching and conduction losses, total inverter loss, and voltage and current harmonic distortions are also compared with both the control strategies. PLECS is used to simulate the inverter losses with a 54-kW surface permanent magnet synchronous machine (SPMSM). Detailed simulation and experimental performances with the proposed carrier-based strategy and the dc-link voltage balancing during the change in speed and torque variations are carried out on a scaled-down prototype of 6-kW SPMSM. Dspace is used for hardware verification. Results show that, with the proposed carrier-based strategy, the dc-link capacitors are balanced even during the change in speed and torque.

[1]  Pragasen Pillay,et al.  Modified DC-Bus Voltage Balancing Algorithm for a Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped PMSM Inverter Drive With Reduced Common-Mode Voltage , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[2]  Stig Munk-Nielsen,et al.  Design of Neutral-Point Voltage Controller of a Three-Level NPC Inverter With Small DC-Link Capacitors , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[3]  R. Petrella,et al.  Modulation techniques for three-phase three-level NPC inverters: A review and a novel solution for switching losses reduction and optimal neutral-point balancing in photovoltaic applications , 2013, 2013 Twenty-Eighth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).

[4]  Josep Pou,et al.  Voltage-Balance Compensator for a Carrier-Based Modulation in the Neutral-Point-Clamped Converter , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[5]  Hirofumi Akagi,et al.  A New Neutral-Point-Clamped PWM Inverter , 1981, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[6]  Pragasen Pillay,et al.  A Hybrid PWM-Based DC-Link Voltage Balancing Algorithm for a Three-Level NPC DC/AC Traction Inverter Drive , 2015, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[7]  Dushan Boroyevich,et al.  Evaluation of the low-frequency neutral-point voltage oscillations in the three-level inverter , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[8]  G. Narayanan,et al.  Analytical Closed-Form Expressions for Harmonic Distortion Corresponding to Novel Switching Sequences for Neutral-Point-Clamped Inverters , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[9]  Pragasen Pillay,et al.  Comparative Analysis Between Two-Level and Three-Level DC/AC Electric Vehicle Traction Inverters Using a Novel DC-Link Voltage Balancing Algorithm , 2014, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[10]  Philippe Baudesson,et al.  A New Carrier-Based PWM Providing Common-Mode-Current Reduction and DC-Bus Balancing for Three-Level Inverters , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[11]  Pragasen Pillay,et al.  Modified DC-Bus Voltage-Balancing Algorithm Based Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped IPMSM Drive for Electric Vehicle Applications , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[12]  Dushan Boroyevich,et al.  A fast space vector modulation algorithm for multilevel three-phase converters , 1999, Conference Record of the 1999 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. Thirty-Forth IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.99CH36370).

[13]  Vijay Srinivasan,et al.  Modeling and design of a neutral-point voltage regulator for a three-level diode-clamped inverter using multiple-carrier modulation , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[14]  Changliang Xia,et al.  Adjustable Proportional Hybrid SVPWM Strategy for Neutral-Point-Clamped Three-Level Inverters , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[15]  Haibing Hu,et al.  Comparisons of Space-Vector Modulation and Carrier-Based Modulation of Multilevel Inverter , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[16]  S. Bernet,et al.  A comparison of three-level converters versus two-level converters for low-voltage drives, traction, and utility applications , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[17]  Obrad Dordevic,et al.  A Comparison of Carrier-Based and Space Vector PWM Techniques for Three-Level Five-Phase Voltage Source Inverters , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.

[18]  Frede Blaabjerg,et al.  Modulation Methods for Neutral-Point-Clamped Wind Power Converter Achieving Loss and Thermal Redistribution Under Low-Voltage Ride-Through , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[19]  A.M. Hava,et al.  A novel neutral point potential stabilization technique using the information of output current polarities and voltage vector , 2001, Conference Record of the 2001 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. 36th IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.01CH37248).

[20]  D. Boroyevich,et al.  A Carrier-Based PWM Strategy With Zero-Sequence Voltage Injection for a Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Converter , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[21]  Pragasen Pillay,et al.  DC-Link Voltage Balancing for a Three-Level Electric Vehicle Traction Inverter Using an Innovative Switching Sequence Control Scheme , 2014, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[22]  T.A. Nondahl,et al.  A carrier-based PWM scheme for neutral-point voltage balancing in three-level inverters , 2004, Nineteenth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, 2004. APEC '04..

[23]  Wensheng Song,et al.  A Carrier-Based PWM Strategy With the Offset Voltage Injection for Single-Phase Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Converters , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[24]  D. Boroyevich,et al.  Limits of the neutral-point balance in back-to-back-connected three-level converters , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.