The authors discuss high-voltage power conversion. Conventional series connection and three-level voltage source inverter techniques are reviewed and compared. A novel versatile multilevel commutation cell is introduced: it is shown that this topology is safer and more simple to control, and delivers purer output waveforms. The authors show how this technique can be applied to either choppers or voltage-source inverters and generalized to any number of switches.<<ETX>>

Multi-level conversion : high voltage choppers and voltage-source inverters

This paper presents a review of recently used direct torque and flux control (DTC) techniques for voltage inverter-fed induction and permanent-magnet synchronous motors. A variety of techniques, different in concept, are described as follows: switching-table-based hysteresis DTC, direct self control, constant-switching-frequency DTC with space-vector modulation (DTC-SVM). Also, trends in the DTC-SVM techniques based on neuro-fuzzy logic controllers are presented. Some oscillograms that illustrate properties of the presented techniques are shown.

Direct torque control of PWM inverter-fed AC motors - a survey

Field-oriented control and direct torque control are becoming the industrial standards for induction motors torque control. This paper is aimed at giving a contribution for a detailed comparison between the two control techniques, emphasizing advantages and disadvantages. The performance of the two control schemes is evaluated in terms of torque and current ripple, and transient response to step variations of the torque command. The analysis has been carried out on the basis of the results obtained by numerical simulations, where secondary effects introduced by hardware implementation are not present.

FOC and DTC: two viable schemes for induction motors torque control

A new era of power electronics was created with the invention of the thyristor in 1957. Since then, the evolution of modern power electronics has witnessed its full potential and is quickly expanding in the applications of generation, transmission, distribution, and end-user consumption of electrical power. The performance of power electronic systems, especially in terms of efficiency and power density, has been continuously improved by the intensive research and advancements in circuit topologies, control schemes, semiconductors, passive components, digital signal processors, and system integration technologies.

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Toward Reliable Power Electronics: Challenges, Design Tools, and Opportunities

Controlled induction motor drives without mechanical speed sensors at the motor shaft have the attractions of low cost and high reliability. To replace the sensor, information on the rotor speed is extracted from measured stator currents and from voltages at motor terminals. Vector-controlled drives require estimating the magnitude and spatial orientation of the fundamental magnetic flux waves in the stator or in the rotor. Open-loop estimators or closed-loop observers are used for this purpose. They differ with respect to accuracy, robustness, and sensitivity against model parameter variations. Dynamic performance and steady-state speed accuracy around zero speed range are achieved by signal injection, exploiting the anisotropic properties of the machine. The overview in this paper uses signal flow graphs of complex space vector quantities to provide an insightful description of the systems used in sensorless control of induction motors.

Sensorless Control of Induction Machines&#8212;With or Without Signal Injection?

Modern pulsewidth modulation (PWM) inverter motor drives are affected by dangerous common-mode currents due to the high rate of variation of the modulated voltage. An inexpensive alternative to low-pass filters, which are normally used to limit common-mode currents, consists in reducing such currents by using suitable modulation strategies. In this paper, a new approach for designing PWM strategies is presented, which is able to reduce common-mode currents by limiting the amount of variations of the common-mode voltage. The main characteristics of the proposed approach are experimentally evaluated on a standard PWM induction motor drive.

Reduction of common mode currents in PWM inverter motor drives

This paper presents the state of the art in the area of industrial applications of sensorless control for permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives. A new emerging technology is becoming mature to come to the market, based on high-frequency signal injection, that makes it possible to achieve zero-speed operation without increasing the complexity and the cost of the system. After an overview of major theoretical principles of sensorless control of PMSMs, the paper focuses on the practical implementation of one of the previously described high-frequency injection techniques in both salient and nonsalient PM machines. Experimental results are presented, including useful hints for practical implementation.

Industry application of zero-speed sensorless control techniques for PM synchronous motors

This paper analyzes different aspects of the maximum-torque-per-ampere (MTPA) vector control of interior permanent-magnet synchronous motors at steady state and transient. Two different implementations are considered: a nonlinear-model-based MTPA profile including saturation and cross-saturation effects and a technique based on the maximization of the motor input power versus stator current. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the torque evolution during a transient under an MTPA control strategy on motors with different characteristics. Useful modifications of the current loop are suggested to improve the drive performance. The effects of the torque transient on the sensorless rotor position estimation are also taken into consideration, in case a sensorless MTPA implementation is required. Experimental results confirm the theoretical analysis, showing the benefits of the new control schemes.

Steady-State and Transient Operation of IPMSMs Under Maximum-Torque-per-Ampere Control

This paper presents a position sensorless vector control able to drive synchronous reluctance motors in any working condition, including low- and zero-speed operations. The proposed control scheme is based on calculating the rotor position from the measurement of an additional high-frequency stator current component and allows a low-cost implementation; moreover, it does not require the knowledge of any motor parameter, nor particular care for motor starting. Simulation and experimental results on a 1.5-kW prototype are presented to evaluate the consistency of the developed technique.

Low and zero speed sensorless control of synchronous reluctance motors

This paper deals with the design and experimental realization of a model reference adaptive control (MRAC) system for the speed control of indirect field-oriented (IFO) induction motor drives based on using fuzzy laws for the adaptive process and a neuro-fuzzy procedure to optimize the fuzzy rules. Variation of the rotor time constant is also accounted for by performing a fuzzy fusion of three simple compensation strategies. A performance comparison between the new controller and a conventional MRAC control scheme is carried out by extensive simulations confirming the superiority of the proposed fuzzy adaptive regulator. A prototype based on an induction motor drive has been assembled and used to practically verify the features of the proposed control strategy.

Antonio Testa

Papers

Reduction of common mode currents in PWM inverter motor drives

Industry application of zero-speed sensorless control techniques for PM synchronous motors

Steady-State and Transient Operation of IPMSMs Under Maximum-Torque-per-Ampere Control

Low and zero speed sensorless control of synchronous reluctance motors

Fuzzy adaptive vector control of induction motor drives