ree-phase SPWM, three modulating signals that are 120 degrees out of phase with one
another are used in order to produce out-of-phase load voltages. In order to
preserve the PWM features with a single carrier signal, the normalized carrier
frequency, mf, needs to be a multiple of three. This keeps the magnitude of the
phase voltages identical, but out of phase with each other by 120 degrees.[15] The
maximum achievable phase voltage amplitude in the linear region, ma less than or
equal to one, is vphase = vi / 2. The maximum achievable line voltage amplitude is
Vab1 = vab • √3 / 2
The only way to control the load voltage is by changing the input DC voltage.
Current source inverters
FIGURE 7: Three-phase current source inverter
Figure 8: Synchronized-pulse-width-modulation waveforms for a three-phase current
source inverter a) Carrier and modulating Ssgnals b) S1 state c) S3 state d) Output
current
Figure 9: Space-vector representation in current source inverters
Current source inverters convert DC current into an AC current waveform. In
applications requiring sinusoidal AC waveforms, magnitude, frequency, and phase
should all be controlled. CSIs have high changes in current over time, so
capacitors are commonly employed on the AC side, while inductors are commonly
employed on the DC side.[15] Due to the absence of freewheeling diodes, the power
circuit is reduced in size and weight, and tends to be more reliable than VSIs.[16]
Although single-phase topologies are possible, three-phase CSIs are more practical.
In its most generalized form, a three-phase CSI employs the same conduction
sequence as a six-pulse rectifier. At any time, only one common-cathode switch and
one common-anode switch are on.[16]
As a result, line currents take discrete values of –ii, 0 and ii. States are chosen
such that a desired waveform is output and only valid states are used. This
selection is based on modulating techniques, which include carrier-based PWM,
selective harmonic elimination, and space-vector techniques.[15]
Carrier-based techniques used for VSIs can also be implemented for CSIs, resulting
in CSI line currents that behave in the same way as VSI line voltages. The digital
circuit utilized for modulating signals contains a switching pulse generator, a
shorting pulse generator, a shorting pulse distributor, and a switching and
shorting pulse combiner. A gating signal is produced based on a carrier current and
three modulating signals.[15]
A shorting pulse is added to this signal when no top switches and no bottom
switches are gated, causing the RMS currents to be equal in all legs. The same
methods are utilized for each phase, however, switching variables are 120 degrees
out of phase relative to one another, and the current pulses are shifted by a half-
cycle with respect to output currents. If a triangular carrier is used with
sinusoidal modulating signals, the CSI is said to be utilizing synchronized-pulse-
width-modulation (SPWM). If full over-modulation is used in conjunction with SPWM
the inverter is said to be in square-wave operation.[15]
The second CSI modulation category, SHE is also similar to its VSI counterpart.
Utilizing the gating signals developed for a VSI and a set of synchronizing
sinusoidal current signals, results in symmetrically distributed shorting pulses
and, therefore, symmetrical gating patterns. This allows any arbitrary number of
harmonics to be eliminated.[15] It also allows control of the fundamental line
current through the proper selection of primary switching angles. Optimal switching
patterns must have quarter-wave and half-wave symmetry, as well as symmetry about
30 degrees and 150 degrees. Switching patterns are never allowed between 60 degrees
and 120 degrees. The current ripple can be further reduced with the use of larger
output capacitors, or by increasing the number of switching pulses.[16]
The third category, space-vector-based modulation, generates PWM load line currents
that equal load line currents, on average. Valid switching states and time
selections are made digitally based on space vector transformation. Modulating
signals are represented as a complex vector using a transformation equation. For
balanced three-phase sinusoidal signals, this vector becomes a fixed module, which
rotates at a frequency, ω. These space vectors are then used to approximate the
modulating signal. If the signal is between arbitrary vectors, the vectors are
combined with the zero vectors I7, I8, or I9.[15] The following equations are used
to ensure that the generated currents and the current vectors are on the average
equivalent.
Multilevel inverters
FIGURE 10: Three-level neutral-clamped inverter
A relatively new class called multilevel inverters has gained widespread interest.
Normal operation of CSIs and VSIs can be classified as two-level inverters because
the power switches connect to either the positive or the negative DC bus.[16] If
more than two voltage levels were available to the inverter output terminals, the
AC output could better approximate a sine wave.[15] For this reason multilevel
inverters, although more complex and costly, offer higher performance.[16] A three-
level neutral-clamped inverter is shown in Figure 10.
Control methods for a three-level inverter only allow two switches of the four
switches in each leg to simultaneously change conduction states. This allows smooth
commutation and avoids shoot through by only selecting valid states.[16] It may
also be noted that since the DC bus voltage is shared by at least two power valves,
their voltage ratings can be less than a two-level counterpart.
Carrier-based and space-vector modulation techniques are used for multilevel
topologies. The methods for these techniques follow those of classic inverters, but
with added complexity. Space-vector modulation offers a greater number of fixed
voltage vectors to be used in approximating the modulation signal, and therefore
allows more effective space vector PWM strategies to be accomplished at the cost of
more elaborate algorithms. Due to added complexity and the number of semiconductor
devices, multilevel inverters are currently more suitable for high-power high-
voltage applications.[16] This technology reduces the harmonics hence improves
overall efficiency of the [Link] timepass