• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1367-1374
• /
• 2016

This paper presents a discrete-time version of voltage and current limited operation using an enhanced direct torque and flux control method for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drives. A command voltage vector for airgap torque and stator flux regulation can be uniquely determined by the finite-settling-step direct torque and flux control (FSS-DTFC) algorithm under physical constraints. The proposed command voltage vector trajectories can be developed to achieve the maximum inverter voltage utilization for the discrete-time current limit (DTCL)-based FSS-DTFC. The algorithm can produce adequate results over a number of the potential secondary upsets found in the steady-state current limit (SSCL)-based DTFC. The fast changes in the torque and stator flux linkage improve the dynamic responses significantly over a wide constant-power operating region. The control strategy was evaluated on a 900W IPMSM in both simulations and experiments.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1415-1425
• /
• 2016

This paper presents a new approach for fault diagnosis in three-level neutral point clamped inverters. The proposed method is based on the average values of the positive and negative parts of normalized output currents. This method is capable of detecting and locating multiple open-circuit faults in the controlled power switches of converters in half of a fundamental period of those currents. The implementation of this diagnostic approach only requires two output currents of the inverter. Therefore, no additional sensors are needed other than the ones already used by the control system of a drive based on this type of converter. Moreover, through the normalization of currents, the diagnosis is independent of the load level of the converter. The performance and effectiveness of the proposed diagnostic technique are validated by experimental results obtained under steady-state and transient conditions.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1387-1395
• /
• 2016

A method for the identification of mechanical parameters based on integral calculation is presented. Both the moment of inertia and the friction constant are identified by the method developed here, which is based on well-known mechanical differential equations. The mechanical system under test is excited according to a pre-determined low-frequency sinusoidal motion, minimizing the distortion, and increasing the accuracy of the results. The parameters are identified using integral calculation, increasing the robustness of the results against measurement noise. Experimental data are supported by simulation, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed technique. The performance improvements shown here are of use in the design of speed and position controllers and observers. Owing to its simplicity, this method can be readily applied to commercial inverter products.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1277-1287
• /
• 2016

This study proposes a novel isolated high step-up galvanic converter, which is suitable for renewable energy applications and integrates a boost converter, a coupled inductor, a charge pump capacitor cell, and an LC snubber. The proposed converter comprises an input inductor and thus features a continuous input current, which extends the life of the renewable energy chip. Furthermore, the proposed converter can achieve a high voltage gain without an extremely large duty cycle and turn ratio of the coupled inductor by using the charge pump capacitor cell. The leakage inductance energy can be recycled to the output capacitor of the boost converter via the LC snubber and then transferred to the output load. As a result, the voltage spike can be suppressed to a low voltage level. Finally, the basic operating principles and experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1407-1414
• /
• 2016

Unlike existing pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques, such as sinusoidal PWM and random PWM, the wavelet PWM (WPWM) technique based on a Harr wavelet function can achieve a high fundamental component for the output voltage, low total harmonic distortion, and simple digital implementation. However, the original WPWM method lacks output voltage control. Thus, the practical application of the WPWM technique is limited. This study proposes an improved WPWM technique that can regulate output voltage amplitude with the addition of a parameter. The relationship between the additional parameter and the output voltage amplitude is analyzed in detail. Experimental results verify that the improved WPWM exhibits output voltage control in addition to all the merits of the WPWM technique.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1298-1305
• /
• 2016

This paper presents the development of a short-circuit protection mechanism on a high voltage switch (HVS) board which is built by a series connection of semiconductor switches. The HVS board is able to quickly detect and limit the peak fault current before the signal board triggers off a gate signal. Voltage clamping techniques are used to safely turn off the short-circuit current and to prevent overvoltage of the series-connected switches. The selection method of the main devices and the development of the HVS board are described in detail. Experimental results have demonstrated that the HVS board is capable of withstanding a short-circuit current at a rated voltage of 10kV without a di/dt slowing down inductor. The corresponding short-circuit current is restricted to 125 A within 100 ns and can safely turn off within 120 ns.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1316-1323
• /
• 2016

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have been preferred over conventional two-level inverters due to their inherent properties such as reduced harmonic distortion, lower electromagnetic interference, minimal common mode voltage, ability to synthesize medium/high voltage from low voltage sources, etc. On the other hand, they suffer from an increased number of switching devices, complex gate pulse generation, etc. This paper develops an ingenious symmetrical MLI topology, which consumes lesser component count. The proposed level dependent sources concoction multilevel inverter (LDSCMLI) is basically a multilevel dc link MLI (MLDCMLI), which first synthesizes a stepped dc link voltage using a sources concoction module and then realizes the ac waveform through a conventional H-bridge. Seven level and eleven level versions of the proposed topology are simulated in MATLAB r2010b and prototypes are constructed to validate the performance. The proposed topology requires lesser components compared to recent component reduced MLI topologies and the classical topologies. In addition, it requires fewer carrier signals and gate driver circuits.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1336-1345
• /
• 2016

A modified space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy based on vector space decomposition and its equivalent carrier-based PWM realization are proposed in this paper, which is suitable for six-phase asymmetrical dual stator induction machines (DSIMs). A DSIM is composed of two sets of symmetrical three-phase stator windings spatially shifted by 30 electrical degrees and a squirrel-cage type rotor. The proposed SVPWM technique can reduce torque ripples and suppress the harmonic currents flowing in the stator windings. Above all, the equivalent relationship between the proposed SVPWM technique and the carrier-based PWM technique has been demonstrated, which allows for easy implementation by a digital signal processor (DSP). Simulation and experimental results, carried out separately on a simulation system and a 3.0 kW DSIM prototype test bench, are presented and discussed.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1346-1354
• /
• 2016

This paper proposes a design guideline for the feedback gain of the adaptive full-order observer in the speed sensorless control of induction machines. The performance of the adaptive full-order observer is dependent on its feedback gain. This paper presents a pole placement method for the observer feedback gain design to improve the estimation performance of the speed adaptive observer. In the proposed method, the observer poles can be chosen independently of the induction motor poles. Instead, they can be positioned according to the operating speed. An analysis and experimental results obtained with the proposed method reveals better performances under general operating conditions.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1504-1512
• /
• 2016

This paper presents a new single-phase asymmetrical cascaded multilevel DC-link inverter. The proposed inverter comprises two stages. The main stage of the inverter consists of multiple similar cells, each of which is a half-bridge inverter consisting of two switches and a single DC source. All cells are connected in a cascaded manner with a fixed neutral point. The DC source values are not made equal to increase the performance of the inverter. The second circuit is a folded cascaded H-bridge circuit operating at a line frequency. One of the main advantages of this proposed topology is that it is a modular type and can thus be extended to high stages without changing the configuration of the main stage circuit. Two control schemes, namely, low switching with selective harmonic elimination and sinusoidal pulse width modulation, are employed to validate the proposed topology. The detailed approach of each control scheme and switching pulses are discussed in detail. A 150W prototype of the proposed system is implemented in the laboratory to verify the validity of the proposed topology.