Configurations of High Power VSI Drives for Traction Applications Using Multi Level Inverters and Multi Phase Induction Motors

멀티레벨 인버터와 다상 유도기를 이용한 견인기용 대전력 VSI의 구조와 특성

Current source inverter drives of auto sequentially commutated type are very popular in high power applications, because of simple power circuit configuration with four quadrant operation. But the six-step current output create harmonic problems and the input power factor of such a drive is not always good. In this respect pulse width modulated drives using gate turn off thyristors ( GTO ) are finding application, especially in traction drives. However the switching and snubber loses of a GTO do not permit the inverter switching frequency go beyond a few hundred hertz.This will again introduce low frequency harmonic problems. Multi level inverters of the 3-level and 5-level can be considered as an alternative to overcome the low switching frequency harmonic problem of the 2-level GTO inverters. But with multi level inverters the complexity of the power circuit increases. In this paper a combination of multi level ( 2-level and 3-level ) inverters and multi phase induction motor ( 3-phase and 6-phase) configurations are presented for high power VSI drives for traction applications with reduced inverter switching frequency requirements coupled with reduced voltage rating for the power switch.