A multilevel Space Vector PWM (SVPWM) technique is developed for a 3-level 3-phase PWM Voltage Source Inverter using a 3-phase coupled inductor to ensure high performance operation. The selection of a suitable PWM switching scheme for the Coupled Inductor Inverter (CII) topology should be based on the dual requirements for a high-quality multilevel PWM output voltage together with the need to minimize high frequency currents and associated losses in the coupled inductor and the inverter switches. Compared to carrier-based multilevel PWM schemes, the space vector techniques provide a wider variety of choices of the available switching states and sequences. The precise identification of pulse placements in the SVPWM method is used to improve the CII performance. The successful operation of the CII topology over the full modulation range relies on selecting switching states where the coupled inductor presents a low winding current ripple and a high effective inductance between the upper and lower switches in each inverter leg. In addition to these requirements, the CII operation is affected by the imbalance inductor common mode dc current. When used efficiently, SVPWM allows for an appropriate balance between the need to properly manage the inductor winding currents and to achieve harmonic performance gains. A number of SVPWM strategies are developed, and suitable switching states are selected for these methods. Employing the interleaved PWM technique by using overlapping switching states, the interleaved Discontinuous SVPWM (DSVPWM) method, compared to other proposed SVPWM methods, doubles the effective switching frequency of the inverter outputs and, as a result, offers superior performance for the CII topology by reducing the inductor losses and switching losses. The inverter operation is examined by means of simulation and experimental testing. The experimental performance comparison is obtained for different PWM switching patterns. The inverter performance is affected by high-frequency inductor current ripple; the excessive inductor losses are reduced by the DSVPWM method. Additional experimental test results are carried out to obtain the inverter performance as a variable frequency drive when operated in steady-state and during transient conditions. The CII topology is shown to have great potential for variable speed drives. / Power Engineering and Power Electronics

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The dissertation documents research work carried out on Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) strategies for hard switched Voltage Source Inverters (VSI) for variable speed electric drives. This research is aimed at Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV). PWM is at the heart of all variable speed electric drives; they have a huge influence on the overall performance of the system and may also help eventually give us an extra degree of freedom in the possibility to rethink the inverter design including the re-dimensioning of the inverter components.HEVs tend to cost more than conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as they have to incorporate two traction systems, which is the major discouraging factor for consumers and in turn for manufacturers. The two traction system increases the maintenance cost of the car as well. In addition the electric drives not only cost extra money but space too, which is already scarce with an ICE under the hood. An all-electric car is not yet a viable idea as the batteries have very low energy density compared with petrol or diesel and take considerable time to charge. One solution could be to use bigger battery packs but these add substantially to the price and weight of the vehicle and are not economically viable. To avoid raising the cost of such vehicles to unreasonably high amounts, autonomy has to be compromised. However hybrid vehicles are an important step forward in the transition toward all-electric cars while research on better batteries evolves. The objective of this research is to make electric drives suitable for HEVs i.e. lighter, more compact and more efficient -- requiring less maintenance and eventually at lower cost so that the advantages, such as low emissions and better fuel efficiency, would out-weigh a little extra cost for these cars. The electrical energy source in a vehicle is a battery, a DC Voltage source, and the traction motor is generally an AC motor owing to the various advantages it offers over a DC motor. Hence the need for a VSI, which is used to transform the DC voltage into AC voltage of desired amplitude and frequency. Pulse width modulation techniques are used to control VSI to ensure that the required/calculated voltage is fed to the machine, to produce the desired torque/speed. PWM techniques are essentially open loop systems where no feedback is used and the instantaneous values differ from the required voltage, however the same average values are obtained. Pulse width modulated techniques produce a low frequency signal (desired average value of the switched voltage) also called the fundamental component, along with unwanted high frequency harmonics linked to the carrier signal frequency or the PWM period. In modern cars we see more and more mechanical loads driven by electricity through digital processors. It is very important to eliminate the risk of electromagnetic interference between these systems to avoid failure or malfunction. Hence these unwanted harmonics have to be filtered so that they do not affect the electronic control unit or other susceptible components placed in the vicinity. Randomised modulation techniques (RPWM) are used to dither these harmonics at the switching frequency and its multiple. In this thesis a random modulator based on space vector modulation is presented which has additional advantages of SVM. Another EMI problem linked to PWM techniques is that they produce common mode voltages in the load. For electric machines, common mode voltage produces shaft voltage which in turn provokes dielectric stress on the motor bearings, its lubricant and hence the possibility of generating bearing currents in the machine that can be fatal for the machine. To reduce the common mode voltage a space vector modulation strategy is developed based on intelligent placement of zero vectors. (...)

The modulation methods Space Vector PWM (SVPWM), Discontinuous PWM (DPWM1, DPWMMAX) and six-step mode are investigated in the overmodulation range of a voltage-fed induction motor drive. This area enables an increase of inverter output voltage so that drive performance can be enhanced. Though, pulse dropping occurs which results in increased iron losses and current waveform quality degradation. Due to differences in harmonic distortion the modulation methods cause various torque oscillations and power losses in induction motors and inverter drives. To quantify these effects in a squirrel cage induction motor drive a simulation model containing a finite element machine model and an analytic inverter model is developed, in order to find the PWM scheme offering maximum torque and minimal power losses. Additionally, the holistic investigation of machine and inverter losses allows for making statements concerning total losses of drive systems and the most suitable overmodulation scheme for the application.

Le travail effectué au cours de cette thèse consiste à étudier et développer des techniques innovantes de modulation de largeurs d'impulsions (MLI) qui visent à optimiser les chaînes de traction électriques embarquées dans des véhicules hybrides ou électriques. La MLI joue un rôle stratégique au coeur des variateurs de vitesse, elle influe sur le comportement général de la chaîne de traction et sur sa performance. La MLI présente des degrés de liberté qui peuvent contribuer avantageusement à redimensionner les composants du variateur tels que le circuit de refroidissement, le filtre EMI et le condensateur du bus continu. Les véhicules hybrides constituent une étape naturelle dans la transition énergétique entre les véhicules thermiques et les véhicules électriques. Notre étude contribue à l'optimisation des variateurs de vitesse en général et ceux au coeur des véhicules hybrides ou électriques en particulier. Notre apport consiste à proposer une MLI performante afin de rendre le variateur plus léger et plus compacte tout en garantissant les fonctionnalités traditionnelles. La compétitivité de ces variateurs et par conséquent des véhicules hybrides ou électriques devient alors accessible. Les véhicules hybrides ou électriques utilisent généralement une machine de traction à courant alternatif en raison de nombreux avantages que celle ci présente par rapport à une machine à courant continu. La source d’alimentation au bord d'un véhicule est une batterie, il est donc nécessaire d'utiliser un onduleur pour transformer la tension continue en tension alternative à amplitude et fréquence variables. Le contrôle de cet onduleur est réalisé par des techniques de modulation de largeurs d'impulsions (MLI) ce qui permet ainsi de réguler le couple de la machine. Les techniques MLI produisent une composante basse fréquence, le fondamental qui est le signal désiré et des composantes hautes fréquences appelées harmoniques de commutation qui sont indésirables. Dans les véhicules modernes, il y a de plus en plus de charges mécaniques pilotées par des machines électriques et des systèmes électroniques. Il est impératif d'éliminer le risque d'interférences électromagnétiques entre ces différents systèmes pour éviter le dysfonctionnement ou la défaillance. Il faut donc filtrer ces harmoniques indésirables pour qu'elles ne perturbent pas les calculateurs et autres circuits électroniques de faibles niveaux de tensions. Il existe des techniques de modulation aléatoire (RPWM) qui permettent d'étaler les harmoniques à la fréquence de commutation et ses multiples. Dans cette étude, notre choix s’est porté sur la technique de modulation vectorielle aléatoire (RSVM) qui présente plusieurs avantages par rapport à la MLI intersective. Les machines pilotées par une MLI produisent des tensions de mode commun dites « shaft voltage », qui peuvent provoquer des courants à travers les roulements de la machine, ces derniers pouvant être destructifs. Nous avons pu développer une technique MLI vectorielle basée sur un choix judicieux des vecteurs nuls pour réduire cette tension de mode commun. La chaleur produite par les pertes dans les convertisseurs à commutation dure lors de l'ouverture et de la fermeture des interrupteurs doit être évacuée rapidement, ce qui réduit le stress thermique, évite la défaillance et augmente la durée de vie des interrupteurs. Une technique utilisée pour réduire ces pertes par commutation est la modulation discontinue (DPWM) ; une amélioration est apportée à cette technique dans ce travail. Cette amélioration est présentée sous forme d'une technique discontinue évolutive (EDSVM) qui s'adapte au régime du moteur pour minimiser les pertes. Grâce à cette technique une meilleure distribution du stress thermique sur les différents bras de l'onduleur est rendue possible et permet ainsi d'augmenter la durée de vie de l'onduleur. (...) / The dissertation documents research work carried out on Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) strategies for hard switched Voltage Source Inverters (VSI) for variable speed electric drives. This research is aimed at Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV). PWM is at the heart of all variable speed electric drives; they have a huge influence on the overall performance of the system and may also help eventually give us an extra degree of freedom in the possibility to rethink the inverter design including the re-dimensioning of the inverter components.HEVs tend to cost more than conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as they have to incorporate two traction systems, which is the major discouraging factor for consumers and in turn for manufacturers. The two traction system increases the maintenance cost of the car as well. In addition the electric drives not only cost extra money but space too, which is already scarce with an ICE under the hood. An all-electric car is not yet a viable idea as the batteries have very low energy density compared with petrol or diesel and take considerable time to charge. One solution could be to use bigger battery packs but these add substantially to the price and weight of the vehicle and are not economically viable. To avoid raising the cost of such vehicles to unreasonably high amounts, autonomy has to be compromised. However hybrid vehicles are an important step forward in the transition toward all-electric cars while research on better batteries evolves. The objective of this research is to make electric drives suitable for HEVs i.e. lighter, more compact and more efficient -- requiring less maintenance and eventually at lower cost so that the advantages, such as low emissions and better fuel efficiency, would out-weigh a little extra cost for these cars. The electrical energy source in a vehicle is a battery, a DC Voltage source, and the traction motor is generally an AC motor owing to the various advantages it offers over a DC motor. Hence the need for a VSI, which is used to transform the DC voltage into AC voltage of desired amplitude and frequency. Pulse width modulation techniques are used to control VSI to ensure that the required/calculated voltage is fed to the machine, to produce the desired torque/speed. PWM techniques are essentially open loop systems where no feedback is used and the instantaneous values differ from the required voltage, however the same average values are obtained. Pulse width modulated techniques produce a low frequency signal (desired average value of the switched voltage) also called the fundamental component, along with unwanted high frequency harmonics linked to the carrier signal frequency or the PWM period. In modern cars we see more and more mechanical loads driven by electricity through digital processors. It is very important to eliminate the risk of electromagnetic interference between these systems to avoid failure or malfunction. Hence these unwanted harmonics have to be filtered so that they do not affect the electronic control unit or other susceptible components placed in the vicinity. Randomised modulation techniques (RPWM) are used to dither these harmonics at the switching frequency and its multiple. In this thesis a random modulator based on space vector modulation is presented which has additional advantages of SVM. Another EMI problem linked to PWM techniques is that they produce common mode voltages in the load. For electric machines, common mode voltage produces shaft voltage which in turn provokes dielectric stress on the motor bearings, its lubricant and hence the possibility of generating bearing currents in the machine that can be fatal for the machine. To reduce the common mode voltage a space vector modulation strategy is developed based on intelligent placement of zero vectors. (...)