Power quality improvement in vector controlled induction motor drive employing multipulse AC-DC converters

In this paper, the power quality performance is investigated from hardware implementation of vector controlled induction motor drive (VCIMD) having multipulse AC-DC converter at front-end. The power quality issues are analysed for 12-pulse, 24-pulse and 40-pulse non-isolated, uncontrolled multipulse AC-DC converters. The vector control of a voltage source inverter (VSI) fed induction motor drive is modelled in MATLAB environment using Simulink and Power System Blockset toolboxes. The results obtained from the simulations are presented along with the hardware test results. It is observed that the AC mains current THD having value less than 3% in VCIMD is possible employing multipulse AC-DC converters.