<p>У тези су предложена два унапређена алгоритма управљања<br />асинхроним мотором у условима када је број сензора који се користи у<br />погону минималан. Број сензора који се користи у повратној спрези<br />управљачког алгоритма сведен је на само један струјни сензор који<br />мери струју једносмерног међукола погонског инвертора. Предложене<br />методе елиминишу карактеристично изобличење реконструисаних<br />фазних струја и постижу бољи квалитет и перформансе управљања у<br />односу на конвенционалну методу. Сва аналитичка разматрања у тези<br />су праћена одговарајућим експерименталним резултатима, који<br />потврђују ефикасност предложених метода управљања.</p> / <p>U tezi su predložena dva unapređena algoritma upravljanja<br />asinhronim motorom u uslovima kada je broj senzora koji se koristi u<br />pogonu minimalan. Broj senzora koji se koristi u povratnoj sprezi<br />upravljačkog algoritma sveden je na samo jedan strujni senzor koji<br />meri struju jednosmernog međukola pogonskog invertora. Predložene<br />metode eliminišu karakteristično izobličenje rekonstruisanih<br />faznih struja i postižu bolji kvalitet i performanse upravljanja u<br />odnosu na konvencionalnu metodu. Sva analitička razmatranja u tezi<br />su praćena odgovarajućim eksperimentalnim rezultatima, koji<br />potvrđuju efikasnost predloženih metoda upravljanja.</p> / <p>This thesis proposes two improved and robust induction motor drive control<br />methods, in the case when there is a minimal number of sensors for<br />providing feedback signals. Number of used sensors is reduced to only one<br />current sensor measuring the inverter dc-link current. Proposed methods<br />cancels offset jitter-like waveform distortion present in the reconstructed<br />motor phase currents, and achieves higher quality and drive performance<br />regard to conventional current reconstruction mechanism. Effectivness of the<br />proposed methods are verified on developed HIL (hardware-in-the-loop)<br />platform and laboratory induction motor drive prototype.</p>

Environ 300 millions de moteurs électriques, de puissance moyenne comprise entre 0,75 kW et 300 kW, sont utilisés dans l’industrie, l’infrastructure et les grands bâtiments. En plus, 30 millions sont renouvelés chaque année. En France, l’énergie électrique consommée par ces moteurs représente environ deux-tiers l’énergie électrique consommée dans l’industrie. Une amélioration, même faible, des performances environnementales de chaque unité apporte donc des gains environnementaux conséquents. La démarche d’éco-conception d’une machine électrique permet d’introduire, contrairement aux autres démarches classiques, les aspects environnementaux lors de la conception de la machine en tenant compte de toutes les phases du cycle de vie, depuis l’extraction des matières premières nécessaires à la fabrication des pièces de la machine jusqu’à son démantèlement et son recyclage. Cette démarche permet de concevoir une machine électrique avec un meilleur écobilan global. Dans ce travail, un outil performant destiné à l’Analyse du Cycle de Vie (ACV), prenant en compte plusieurs critères d’impacts afin d’éviter le transfert de pollution d’un critère à l’autre, a été utilisé pour améliorer significativement les performances éco-énergétiques des moteurs électriques. Un premier prototype de moteur « vert » réalisé avec de nouveaux concepts a été fabriqué et comparé à une machine de référence. Sa réalisation a été dictée par le souci de réduire au maximum son empreinte environnementale en utilisant des matériaux plus respectueux de l’environnement, mais aussi en augmentant son efficacité énergétique. Le prototype est ainsi fabriqué à base de tôle à grains orientés, de fil émaillé UV sans solvant, de plastique d’origine végétale et de roulements éco-énergétiques. Ce moteur prototype possède une haute éco-efficacité énergétique puisque son rendement est augmenté de l’ordre de trois points par rapport au moteur standard, sans augmenter sa masse, de plus il comporte un système d’isolation qui n’utilise pas de solvant et des plastiques biosourcés. / Approximately 300 million of electric motors, with average power range from 0.75 kW to 300 kW, are used in industry, infrastructure and large buildings. In addition, 30 millions are renewed each year. In France, the electrical power consumed by these motors is about two-third of the electrical energy consumed in the industry. Thus, an improvement, even small, of the environmental performance of each motor would provide substantial environmental benefits. Contrary to the conventional approaches, the eco-design of an electrical machine can introduce environmental aspects during the design of the machine, taking into account all phases of the life cycle from the extraction of raw materials to the decommissioning and the recycling. This approach has been applied in this study to design an electrical motor, which has a better global energetic eco-balance. Therefore, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool is used; it takes into account several impact criteria to avoid pollution transfers from one criterion to another. A first "Green" prototype motor made with a high energetic eco-efficiency was fabricated and tested. The study was dictated by the need to minimize its global environmental impact by using materials more environmentally friendly, but also in order to increase its energy efficiency. The prototype is made with a grain oriented steel sheets, an enameled wire polymerized by UV and without solvents, some plastic based on biopolymers and with eco-energetic bearings. The eco-designed motor has a high energetic eco-efficiency; its performance is increased by about 3 % compared to the standard motor and without increasing its mass.

In high-power electric drives, multilevel inverters are generally deployed to address issues such as electromagnetic interference, switch voltage stress and harmonic distortion. The switching frequency of the inverter is always kept low, of the order of 1KHz or even less to reduce switching losses and synchronous pulse width modulation (PWM) is used to avoid the problem of sub-harmonics and beat frequencies. This is particularly important if the switching frequency is very low. The synchronous PWM is getting popularity as its realization is very easy with digital controllers compared to analog controllers. Neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverters, cascaded H-bridge, and flying-capacitor multilevel inverters are some of the popular schemes used for high-power applications. Hybrids of these multilevel inverters have also been proposed recently to take advantage of the basic configurations. Multilevel inverters can also be realized by feeding the induction motor from both ends (open-end winding) using conventional inverter structures. For controlling the output voltage of these inverters, various PWM techniques are used. Chapter-1 of this thesis provides an over view of the various multilevel inverter schemes preceded by a discussion on basic two-level VSI topology. The inverters used in motor drive applications have to be operated in over-modulation range in order to extract the maximum fundamental output voltage that is possible from the dc-link. Operation in this high modulation range is required to meet temporary overloads or to have maximum power operation in the high speed range (flux weakened region). This, however, introduces a substantial amount of low order harmonics in the Motor phase voltages. Due to these low-order harmonic frequencies, the dynamic performance of the drive is lost and the current control schemes are severely affected especially due to 5th and 7th harmonic components. Further, due to these low-order harmonics and non-linear PWM operation in over-modulation region, frequent over-current fault conditions occur and reliability of the drive is jeopardized. The twelve sided-polygonal space vector diagram (dodecagonal space vectors) can be used to overcome the problem of low order 5th and 7th harmonics and to give more range for linear modulation while keeping the switching frequency at a minimum compared to conventional hexagonal space vector based inverters. Thus, the dodecagonal space-vector switching can be viewed as an engineering compromise between low switching frequency and quality load current waveform. Most of the previous works of dodecagonal space-vector generation schemes are based on NPC inverters. However, sophisticated charge control schemes are required in NPC inverters to deal with the neutral-point voltage fluctuation and the neutral-point voltage shifting issues. The losses in the clamping diodes are another major concern. In the second chapter, a multilevel dodecagonal space-vector generation scheme based on flying capacitor topology, utilizing an open end winding induction motor is presented. The neutral point charge-balancing problem reported in the previous works is not present in this scheme, the clamping diodes are eliminated and the number of power supplies required has been reduced. The capacitors have inherent charge balancing capability, and the charge control is done once in every switching cycle, which gives tight voltage control for the capacitors. For the speed control of induction motors, the space-vector PWM scheme is more advantageous than the sine-triangle PWM as it gives a more linear range of operation and improved harmonic performance. One major disadvantage with the conventional space-vector PWM is that the trigonometric operations demand formidable computational efforts and look-up tables. Carrier based, common-mode injected PWM schemes have been proposed to simplify the PWM process. However, the freedom of selecting the PWM switching sequences is limited here. Another way of obtaining SVPWM is using the reference voltage samples and the nearest vector information to switch appropriate devices for proper time intervals, realizing the reference vector in an average sense. In-formation regarding the sector and nearest vectors can be easily obtained by comparing the instantaneous amplitudes of the reference voltages. This PWM approach is pro-posed for the speed control of the motor in this thesis. The trigonometric operations and the requirement of large look-up tables in the conventional SVPWM are avoided in this method. It has the additional advantage that the switching sequences can be decided at will, which is helpful in reducing further, the harmonic distortion in certain frequency ranges. In this way, this method tries to combine the advantages of vector based methods (conventional SVPWM) and scalar methods (carrier-based methods). The open-end winding schemes allowed the required phase voltage levels to be generated quite easily by feeding from both ends of the windings. Thus, most of the multilevel inverters based on dodecagonal space-vector structures relied on induction motors with open-end windings. The main disadvantage of open-end winding induction motor is that six wires are to be run from the inverter to the motor, which may be unacceptable in certain applications. Apart from the inconvenience of laying six wires, the voltage reflections in the wires can lead to over voltages at the motor terminals, causing insulation failures. Where as the topology presented in chapter-2 of this thesis uses open-end winding motor with flying-capacitor inverters for the generation of dodecagonal space-vectors, the topology presented in chapter-3 utilizes a cascade connection of flying-capacitors and floating H-bridge cells to generate the same set of voltage space-vectors, thus allowing any standard induction motor as the load. Of the methods used for the speed control of induction motors, namely sine-triangle PWM and space vector PWM, the latter that provides extra modulation range is naturally preferred. It is a well-understood fact that the way in which the PWM switching sequences are applied has a significant influence on the harmonic performance of the drive. However, this topic has not been addressed properly for dodecagonal voltage space-vector based multilevel inverter drives. In chapter-4 of the thesis, this aspect is taken into ac-count and the notion of “harmonic flux trajectories” and “stator flux ripple” are used to analyze the harmonic performance of the various PWM switching schemes. Although the PWM method used in this study is similar to that in chapter-2, the modification in the PWM switching sequence in the PWM algorithm yields significant improvements in harmonic performance. The proposed topologies and PWM schemes are extensively simulated and experimentally verified. The control scheme was implemented using a DSP processor running at a clock frequency 150MHz and a four-pole, 3.7kW, 50Hz, 415V three-phase induction motor was used as the load. Since the PWM ports are limited in a DSP, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) was used to decode the PWM signals from the DSP to generate timing information required for PWM sequencing for all the power devices. The same FPGA was used to generate the dead-time signals for the power devices also.

Este trabalho tem seu foco na monitoração dos processos de usinagem das máquinas ferramentas sem a utilização de sensores dedicados à medição direta das grandezas mecânicas envolvidas no processo de usinagem em si. Assim sendo, optou-se por um método de medição indireta utilizando um estimador de potência e torque baseado nas grandezas elétricas na entrada de energia do motor de indução da máquina ferramenta. O núcleo central do trabalho consiste na medição de processos de usinagem utilizando um dinamômetro de alta precisão próprio para máquina ferramenta para obter os valores médios e os modos de vibração do processo máquina ferramenta-usinagem e fazer a confrontação com os mesmos dados obtidos pelo estimador de torque. A pesquisa realizada utilizou ferramentas clássicas de processamento de sinais, como é o caso da FFT, assim como duas poderosas ferramentas atuais, a transformada de wavelet (WT) e a transformada de Hilbert-Huang (HHT). Em adição foi utilizado um processo de otimização para a determinação dos parâmetros do motor de indução on-line baseado em uma metaheurística denominada busca de harmonia (Harmony Search HS) / This work focuses on monitoring the machining processes in machine tools without the use of dedicated transducers to directly measure mechanicals quantities of the machining process. The approached method used the option of measuring the power and torque through a estimator based in the electrical quantities in the input of the induction motor used by machine tool. The core of the work consists in the measuring the mechanical processes of machining using a high precision dynamometer specified to machine tool to get the average values of mechanical quantities and the vibration modes of the set machine tool-machining process, the objective is to compare the same data group got from dynamometer and estimator. The research data was based on classical analysis tool such as Fourier transform (FFT) and on modern powerful tools such as wavelet transforms (WT) and Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). To refine the measuring process of average values of torque and power using the induction motor a method to estimates the motor parameters was added based on an optimization method named harmony search (HS).

Ce travail porte sur la modélisation et le dimensionnement des moteurs à aimants permanents et asynchrones destinés à la propulsion marine par POD. Un état de l’art est présenté, où les différentes topologies de moteurs pour ce type d’application y sont abordées. La Machine à aimants permanents et la machine asynchrone on été retenue pour notre application. Dans le cas de la machine à aimants permanents, une analyse par éléments finis est effectuée pour dimensionner la machine à aimants permanents et minimiser les principaux harmoniques de la FÉM. Un modèle éléments finis 2D en magnétostatique couplé à un modèle circuit est développé pour la prédiction des couples pulsatoires dues aux harmoniques du convertisseur. En ce qui concerne la machine asynchrone, Pour tenir compte des harmoniques d’espace et évaluer leurs pertes, un modèle électromagnétique utilisant la résolution par éléments finis 2D en magnétodynamique couplé à un modèle circuit est développé. Par ailleurs, un autre modèle basé sur le principe de couplage éléments finis- circuit électrique est développé pour tenir compte des harmoniques de temps du variateur, ce modèle permet d’évaluer à la fois les pertes dues aux harmoniques de temps, mais aussi des couples pulsatoires. Dans la phase de validation et vérification des différents calculs, nous avons utilisé l’outil Flux2D de calcul par éléments finis qui tient compte de la rotation du rotor (pas à pas dans le temps) et effectué certaines mesures (cas de la machine à aimants permanents). Les résultats des calculs obtenus par les modèles développés concordent avec ceux obtenus par la méthode temporelle (pas à pas dans le temps) et les quelques mesures dont nous disposons / This work concerns the modeling and the design of the permanent magnets and asynchronous motors intended for POD ship propulsion. A state of the art is presented, where various topologies of motors designed for this application are approached there. The permanent magnet motor and the induction motor have been chosen for the application. For the permanent magnets motor, a finite element analysis is adopted to design and minimize the main harmonics leading to a quasi sinusoidal back EMF. A finite element model coupled to an electrical circuit allows to predict both current and torque waveforms including time harmonics knowing the voltage waveform of the inverter. The induction motor is designed in such a way to have minimum losses and pulsating torque. For this purpose, a 2D complex finite element method coupled to an electrical circuit is developed. In addition, another 2D finite element-electrical circuit model is proposed to evaluate time harmonics losses and to reconstitute the current and torque waveforms. This model allows to predict the pulsating torques. The validation and verification step is done by using a time stepping finite element software Flux2D and some available measurements (for the permanent magnets motor). The comparison of the calculations obtained by the different methods and software, as well as the available measurements is satisfactory

Most developing countries are faced with drinking water problems, with conditions becoming more severe due to water pollution. Meeting the growing demands for clean water in most countries, there are difficult challenges as the availability and supply of drinkable water are diminishing. Due to economic and environmental concerns, development of additional physical means for the removal of organic compounds from wastewater using permanent magnets, electromagnetic coils, electrodes and ultrasonic pretreatment is desirable. Improving the adsorption and separation process, magnetic field exposure method has progressively drawn consideration. Magnetic field exposure method has demonstrated its capacity for increasing the adsorptive elimination of contaminants from water as static magnetization is suitable, simple and cost-effective. The polypyrrole magnetic nanocomposite use for adsorption experiments influenced by exter-nal magnetic field was prepared using the in-situ polymerization method, which was charac-terized using TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, FTIR, VSM, and ESR spectrophotometers. The magnetic nanocomposite (PPy/Fe3O4) was observed to have an average particle size of 10 nm with the elementary composition of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, chloride and iron. The magnetic nanocomposite had a crystalline structure of face-centred cubic lattice of Fe3O4, an adsorption-desorption isotherm shape indicating a typical type-IV mesoporous material with a surface area of 28.77 m2/g. Characteristic peaks of Fe3O4 and PPy were also observed using FTIR spectro-photometer. From the VSM and ESR characterization, the synthesized superparamagnetic ma-terial was shown to have a saturation magnetization of 23 emu/g and an effective g-value of 2.25 g which was attributed to Fe3+ spin interaction. An enhanced removal of Cr(VI), fluoride and congo red dye were observed under the influence of magnetic field, with parameters like pH, adsorbent dosage, the initial concentration of ad-sorbate, magnetic field and magnetic exposure time been varied. The enhanced adsorption of contaminants using magnetic field is attributed to the increase in the magnetic field induced on the particles over a magnetic exposure time, resulting in the rotating particles forming aggre-gates due to the increased magnetic force and torque on the particles from the PSV results. This leads to increase in the chain collision and area of particle interaction with the aqueous solution of hexavalent chromium, fluoride and congo red dye. / Physics / Ph. D. (Physics)

Este trabalho tem seu foco na monitoração dos processos de usinagem das máquinas ferramentas sem a utilização de sensores dedicados à medição direta das grandezas mecânicas envolvidas no processo de usinagem em si. Assim sendo, optou-se por um método de medição indireta utilizando um estimador de potência e torque baseado nas grandezas elétricas na entrada de energia do motor de indução da máquina ferramenta. O núcleo central do trabalho consiste na medição de processos de usinagem utilizando um dinamômetro de alta precisão próprio para máquina ferramenta para obter os valores médios e os modos de vibração do processo máquina ferramenta-usinagem e fazer a confrontação com os mesmos dados obtidos pelo estimador de torque. A pesquisa realizada utilizou ferramentas clássicas de processamento de sinais, como é o caso da FFT, assim como duas poderosas ferramentas atuais, a transformada de wavelet (WT) e a transformada de Hilbert-Huang (HHT). Em adição foi utilizado um processo de otimização para a determinação dos parâmetros do motor de indução on-line baseado em uma metaheurística denominada busca de harmonia (Harmony Search HS) / This work focuses on monitoring the machining processes in machine tools without the use of dedicated transducers to directly measure mechanicals quantities of the machining process. The approached method used the option of measuring the power and torque through a estimator based in the electrical quantities in the input of the induction motor used by machine tool. The core of the work consists in the measuring the mechanical processes of machining using a high precision dynamometer specified to machine tool to get the average values of mechanical quantities and the vibration modes of the set machine tool-machining process, the objective is to compare the same data group got from dynamometer and estimator. The research data was based on classical analysis tool such as Fourier transform (FFT) and on modern powerful tools such as wavelet transforms (WT) and Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). To refine the measuring process of average values of torque and power using the induction motor a method to estimates the motor parameters was added based on an optimization method named harmony search (HS).

<p>Сваки мехатронички систем лифта (МСЛ) садржи механички подсистем<br />који је карактерисан својом резонантном фреквенцијом. У дисертацији је<br />представљен оригинални метод за подешавање антирезонантног<br />филтера базиран на примјени Герцеловог алгоритма и Киферовог<br />алгоритма претраживања. Предложен је јединствени генерализовани<br />модел референце брзине у функцији трзаја. Кроз експерименталне<br />провјере, верификовано је да само синергијски ефекат контроле трзаја и<br />филтрирања референтног момента може елиминисати резонантне<br />вибрације. Предложени су поступци и развијени алгоритми за повећање<br />енергетске ефикасности погона МСЛ. Предложени алгоритми су у<br />интеракцији са планираном трајекторијом брзине и антирезонантном<br />управљачком шемом. Сви предложени алгоритми су имплементирани<br />на дигиталном сигнал процесору.</p> / <p>Svaki mehatronički sistem lifta (MSL) sadrži mehanički podsistem<br />koji je karakterisan svojom rezonantnom frekvencijom. U disertaciji je<br />predstavljen originalni metod za podešavanje antirezonantnog<br />filtera baziran na primjeni Gercelovog algoritma i Kiferovog<br />algoritma pretraživanja. Predložen je jedinstveni generalizovani<br />model reference brzine u funkciji trzaja. Kroz eksperimentalne<br />provjere, verifikovano je da samo sinergijski efekat kontrole trzaja i<br />filtriranja referentnog momenta može eliminisati rezonantne<br />vibracije. Predloženi su postupci i razvijeni algoritmi za povećanje<br />energetske efikasnosti pogona MSL. Predloženi algoritmi su u<br />interakciji sa planiranom trajektorijom brzine i antirezonantnom<br />upravljačkom šemom. Svi predloženi algoritmi su implementirani<br />na digitalnom signal procesoru.</p> / <p>Each elevator mechatronic system (EMS) contains a mechanical subsystem<br />which is characterized by its resonant frequencies. The original method for<br />band-stop filter tuning based on Goertzel algorithm and Kiefer search<br />algorithm is proposed in dissertation. In order to generate the speed<br />reference trajectory which can be defined by different shapes and amplitudes<br />of jerk, a unique generalized model is proposed. Through experimental<br />verifications, it has been verified that only synergistic effect of controlling jerk<br />and filtrating the reference torque can eliminate resonant vibrations. The<br />dissertation proposes procedures and developed algorithms for increasing<br />the energy efficiency of the EMS power drive. The proposed algorithms are<br />in interaction with the planned speed reference trajectory and the proposed<br />anti-resonant control scheme. The all proposed algorithms are implemented<br />on the digital signal processor.</p>

Multilevel converters are finding increased attention in industry and academia as the preferred choice of electronic power conversion for high power applications. They have a wide application area in a variety of industries involving transportation and energy management, a significant portion of which comprises of multilevel inverter fed induction motor drives. Multilevel inverters are ideally suitable for high power drives, since the switching frequency of the devices is limited for high power applications. In low power drives, the switching frequency is often in the range of tens of kHz, so that switching frequency harmonics are pushed higher in the frequency spectrum thereby the size and cost of the filter are reduced. But higher switching frequency has its own drawbacks, in particular for high voltage, high power applications. They cause large dv/dt stress on the motor and the devices, increased EMI problems and higher switching losses. An engineering trade-o is thus needed to select the minimum switching frequency without compromising on the output voltage quality. The present work is an alternate approach in this direction. Here, new inverter topologies and PWM strategies are developed that can eliminate a set of harmonics in the phase voltage using 12-sided polygonal space vector diagrams, also called dodecagonal space vector diagrams. A dodecagonal space vector diagram has many advantages over a hexagonal one. Switching space vectors on a dodecagon will not produce any harmonics of the order 6n 1, (n=odd) in the phase voltage. The next set of harmonics thus reside at 12n 1, (n=integer). By increasing the number of samples in a sector, it is also possible to suppress the lower order harmonics and a nearly sinusoidal voltage can be obtained. This is possible to achieve at a low switching frequency of the inverters. At the same time, a dodecagon is closer to a circle than a hexagon; so the linear modulation range is extended by about 6.6% compared to the hexagonal case. For a 50 Hz rated frequency operation, under constant V/f ratio, the linear modulation can be achieved upto a frequency of 48.3 Hz. Also, the harmonics of the order 6n 1, (n=odd) are absent in the over-modulation region. Maximum fundamental voltage is obtained from this inverter at the end of over-modulation region, where the phase voltage becomes a 12-step waveform. The present work is developed on dodecagonal space vector diagrams. The entire work can be summarized and explained through Fig. 1. This figure shows the development of hexagonal and dodecagonal space vector diagrams. It is known that, 3-level and 5-level space vector diagrams have been developed as an improvement over 2-level ones. They Figure 1: Development of hexagonal and dodecagonal space vector diagrams have better harmonic performance, reduced dv/dt stress on the motor and devices, better electromagnetic compatibility and improvement of efficiency over 2-level space vector diagrams. This happens because the instantaneous error between the reference vector and the switching vectors reduces, as the space vector density increases in the diagram. This is shown at the top of the figure. In the bottom part, the development of the dodecagonal space vector diagram is shown, which is the contribution of this thesis work. This is explained in brief in the following lines. Initially, a space vector diagram is proposed which switches on hexagonal space vectors in lower-modulation region and dodecagonal space vectors in the higher modulation region. As the reference vector length increases, voltage vectors at the vertices of the outer dodecagon and the vertices from the outer most hexagon is used for PWM control. This results in highly suppressed 5th and 7th order harmonics thereby improving the harmonic profile of the motor current. This leads to the 12-step operation at rated voltage where all the 5th and 7th order harmonics are completely eliminated. At the same time, the linear range of modulation extends upto 96.6% of base speed. Because of this, and the high degree of suppression of lower order harmonics, smooth acceleration of the motor upto rated speed is possible. The presence of multilevel space vector structure also limits the switching frequency of the inverters. In the next work, the single dodecagonal space vector diagram is improved upon to form two concentric dodecagons spanning the space vector plane (Fig. 1). The radius of the outer dodecagon is double the inner one. It reduces the device rating and the dv/dt stress on the devices to half compared to existing 12-sided schemes. The entire space vector diagram is divided into smaller sized isosceles triangles. PWM switching on these smaller triangles reduces the inverter switching frequency without compromising on the output voltage quality. The space vector diagram is further refined to accommodate six concentric dodecagons in the space vector plane (Fig. 1). Here the space vector diagram is characterized by alternately placed dodecagons which become closer to each other at higher radii. As such the harmonics in the phase voltage are reduced, in particular at higher modulation indices. At the same time, because of the dodecagonal space vector structure, all the 6n ± 1, (n=odd) harmonics are eliminated from the phase voltage. A nearly sinusoidal phase voltage can be generated without resorting to high frequency switching of the inverters. The above space vector diagrams are developed using different inverter circuits. The first work is developed from cascaded combination of three 2-level inverters, while the second and third works use 3-level NPC inverters feeding an open end induction motor drive. The circuit topologies are explained in detail in the respective chapters. Apart from this, PWM switching schemes and detailed analysis on duty cycle calculations using the concept of volt-second balance are also presented. They show that with proper switching schemes, the proposed configurations can substantially reduce the overall loss of the inverter. Other operational issues like capacitor voltage balancing of 3-level NPC inverters and improvement of input current drawn from the grid are also covered. All the above propositions are first simulated by MATLAB and subsequently verified by an experimental laboratory prototype. Motor current waveforms both at steady state and transient conditions during motor acceleration show that the induction motor can be fed from nearly sinusoidal voltage at all operating conditions. Simplified comparative studies are also made with the proposed converters and higher level inverters in terms of output voltage quality and losses. These are some of the constituents for chapters 2, 3 and 4 in this thesis. Additionally, the first chapter also covers a brief survey on some of the recent progresses made in the field of multilevel inverter. The thesis concludes with some interesting ideas for further thought and exploration.

In high power induction motor drives, the switching frequency of the inverter is quite low due to the high losses in the power devices. Real-time PWM strategies, which result in reduced harmonic distortion under low switching frequencies and have maximum possible DC bus utilisation, are developed for such drives in the present work. The space vector approach is taken up for the generation of synchronised PWM waveforms with 3-Phase Symmetry, Half Wave Symmetry and Quarter Wave Symmetry, required for high-power drives. Rules for synchronisation and the waveform symmetries are brought out. These rules are applied to the conventional and modified forms of space vector modulation, leading to the synchronised conventional space vector strategy and the Basic Bus Clamping Strategy-I, respectively. Further, four new synchronised, bus-clamping PWM strategies, namely Asymmetric Zero-Changing Strategy, Boundary Sampling Strategy-I, Basic Bus Clamping Strategy-II and Boundary Sampling Strategy-II, are proposed. These strategies exploit the flexibilities offered by the space vector approach like double-switching of a phase within a subcycle, clamping of two phases within a subcycle etc. It is shown that the PWM waveforms generated by these strategies cannot be generated by comparing suitable 3-phase modulating waves with a triangular carrier wave. A modified two-zone approach to overmodulation is proposed. This is applied to the six synchronised PWM strategies, dealt with in the present work, to extend the operation of these strategies upto the six-step mode. Linearity is ensured between the magnitude of the reference and the fundamental voltage generated in the whole range of modulation upto the six-step mode. This is verified experimentally. A suitable combination of these strategies leads to a significant reduction in the harmonic distortion of the drive at medium and high speed ranges over the conventional space vector strategy. This reduction in harmonic distortion is demonstrated, theoretically as well as experimentally, on a constant V/F drive of base frequency 50Hz for three values of maximum switching frequency of the inverter, namely 450Hz, 350Hz and 250Hz. Based on the notion of stator flux ripple, analytical closed-form expressions are derived for the harmonic distortion due to the different PWM strategies. The values of harmonic distortion, computed based on these analytical expressions, compare well with those calculated based on Fourier analysis and those measured experimentally.