Search Results (75)

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have become fundamental in contemporary power electronics, providing enhanced performance compared to conventional two-level inverters regarding their output voltage quality, efficiency, and scalability. This study comprehensively assesses multilevel inverter technologies, including their topologies, control systems, and various applications. The study starts with a comprehensive examination of the core concepts of MLIs, subsequently embarking on a detailed evaluation of both conventional and innovative topologies, such as diode-clamped, flying capacitor, cascaded H-bridge, and modular multilevel converters. The study further examines the control systems used in MLIs, including Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), space vector modulation (SVM), and Model Predictive Control (MPC), emphasizing their benefits and drawbacks. The applications of MLIs in renewable energy systems, electric cars, industrial drives, and grid integration are comprehensively examined. The study closes by examining growing trends, difficulties, and future research paths, emphasizing the ability of MLIs to transform power conversion systems. Full article

This paper introduces a novel field-oriented control (FOC) strategy for an open-end stator three-phase winding induction motor (OEW-TP-IM) using dual space vector modulation-pulse width modulation (SVM-PWM) inverters. This configuration reduces common mode voltage at the motor’s terminals, enhancing efficiency and reliability. The study presents a backstepping control approach combined with a mean value theorem (MVT)-based observer to improve control accuracy and stability. Stability analysis of the backstepping controller for key control loops, including flux, speed, and currents, is conducted, achieving asymptotic stability as confirmed through Lyapunov’s methods. An advanced observer using sector nonlinearity (SNL) and time-varying parameters from convex theory is developed to manage state observer error dynamics effectively. Stability conditions, defined as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), are solved using MATLAB R2016b to optimize the observer’s estimator gains. This approach simplifies system complexity by measuring only two line currents, enhancing responsiveness. Comprehensive simulations validate the system’s performance under various conditions, confirming its robustness and effectiveness. This strategy improves the operational dynamics of OEW-TP-IM machine and offers potential for broad industrial applications requiring precise and reliable motor control. Full article

This paper presents a Space Vector Modulation (SVM) method with a novel zero vector distribution system for electrical vehicle drives with a six-phase induction motor working under the Direct Field-Oriented Control (DFOC) method. Different SVM methods are described and compared, and a new approach with long vectors only and a special zero vector distribution, that compensates for the third harmonic component is proposed. The DFOC method is described and the influence of the applied modulation method on six-phase motor currents is shown. Results of our experimental studies on the DFOC method are presented and discussed. The proposed modulation method for a six-phase Voltage Source Inverter can be applied in fault-tolerant electrical vehicles. Full article

This paper provides an overview of existing theories on various modulation strategies for current-source inverters (CSI), particularly focusing on space vector modulation (SVM). The emphasis is on the development of detailed simulation models that improve understanding and allow practical application. Three important modulators are analyzed: voltage-source inverter (VSI)-derived CSI SVM modulator, direct CSI SVM modulator, and direct duty ratio CSI PWM modulator (DDPWM). These models are important for researchers and practicing engineers as they allow simulation, modification and better understanding of CSIs. This paper begins with a theoretical overview of the functionality of CSIs and presents the modulation techniques needed to develop simulation models. These modulation techniques use modular components to create complete simulation models. Application examples are provided to use the correct/valid parameters such that the operation/waveforms can be compared with the theory. Integrating established mathematical models with effective simulation tools enhances the understanding and application of CSI modulators. This method not only makes it easier to employ these CSIs instead of conventional inverter systems, but it also increases the possibility of power electronics advancements by creating better and more reliable systems. Full article

This paper proposes an improved Maximum Torque Per Ampere (MTPA) control method based on The Direct Torque Control-Space Vector Modulation (DTC-SVM) control algorithm using d-axis flux optimization. The proposed algorithm simplifies the existing DTC-SVM control method by geometrically interpreting its complex equations thereby providing a more straightforward and efficient approach. The proposed algorithm geometrically computes the d-axis flux reference and compensation values for the MTPA control by continuously monitoring the q-axis flux in real time. Additionally, the compensation value of the d-axis flux reference is employed to compute the magnitude and phase reference values of the DTC-SVM voltage vector, which in turn generates the stator current values that align with the MTPA curve. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was validated through simulation results in MATLAB Simulink. When the proposed algorithm was applied, the torque response to the torque command improved compared to the DTC-SVM control. Additionally, for the same torque production, the stator current consumption of the IPMSM was reduced by approximately 12.55%, demonstrating improved efficiency. To further validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, a dynamometer test system was established, and the IPMSM was tested across various speed ranges below the base speed while generating different torque outputs. The torque response dynamics and stator current consumption of the proposed algorithm were then compared with those of the DTC-SVM algorithm, confirming its enhanced performance. Full article

With the continuous proliferation and development of renewable energy technologies, three-level converters have gained widespread application due to their lower output harmonics and higher output voltage. However, in practical applications, multilevel converters inevitably encounter issues such as common-mode voltage (CMV) and neutral-point voltage (NPV) imbalance, which significantly affect system stability and operational lifespan. This paper investigates the root causes of neutral-point voltage fluctuations and common-mode voltage generation. It provides an analysis and summary of solutions for CMV suppression and NPV balancing, focusing on space vector modulation (SVM) strategies, carrier-based modulation techniques, modulation waveform approaches, and intelligent control methods. Furthermore, the paper explores future development trends, aiming to provide valuable insights for subsequent theoretical research and practical applications. Full article

A matrix converter (MC) converts an AC source voltage into a variable-voltage variable-frequency AC output voltage (direct AC-AC) without an intermediate DC-link capacitance. By eliminating the traditional DC-link capacitor, MCs can achieve higher power densities and reliability when compared to conventional AC-DC-AC converters. MCs also offer the following characteristics: total semiconductor solution, sinusoidal input and output currents, bidirectional power flow and controllable input power factor. This paper reviews the history, recent developments and commercialization of MCs and discusses several technical requirements and challenges, including bidirectional switches, wide bandgap (WBG) opportunities using GaN and SiC, overvoltage protection, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and ride-through in motor drive applications. MC design solutions and operation are discussed, including a comparison of control and modulation techniques as well as the detailed development of space vector modulation (SVM) to provide a deep insight into the control implementation and results. The paper concludes with compelling motor drive innovation opportunities made possible by advanced MCs including fully integrated and multiphase systems. For conventional MCs, size reductions of 30% are reported, as well as efficiencies of 98% and low input current total harmonic distortion of 3–5%. Full article

Electric vehicles demand efficient and robust motor control to maximize range and performance. This paper presents an innovative adaptive fractional-order sliding mode (FO-SM) control approach tailored for Direct Torque Control with Space Vector Modulation (DTC-SVM) applied to induction motor drives. This approach tackles the challenges of parameter variations inherent in real-world applications, such as temperature changes and load fluctuations. By leveraging the inherent robustness of FO-SM and the fast dynamic response of DTC-SVM, our proposed control strategy achieves superior performance, significantly reduced torque ripple, and improved efficiency. The adaptive nature of the control system allows for real-time adjustments based on system conditions, ensuring reliable operation even in the presence of uncertainties. This research presents a significant advancement in electric vehicle propulsion systems, offering a powerful and adaptable control solution for induction motor drives. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this innovative approach to enhance the robustness and performance of electric vehicles, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient future of transportation. In fact, the paper proposes using an adaptive approach to control the electric vehicle’s speed based on the fractional calculus of sliding mode control. The adaptive algorithm converges to the actual values of all system parameters. Moreover, the obtained performance results are reached without precise system modeling. Full article

In the context of energy conversion from renewable sources to distribution grids (insulated or not), a converter is often required to transfer energy from a low voltage source towards three-phase grids. This paper presents the HW design, the simulation results, and the conversion performance of a CSI converter intended to interface low-voltage renewable sources to three-phase grids. The main focus of this paper is to obtain the best performance in terms of voltage increase towards the output stage while maximizing the conversion efficiency. In comparison with the currently used energy conversion systems for small photovoltaic systems, hereafter some solutions were adopted to level and maximize the energy flow from the source to the DC-link and improve the quality of current supplied in terms of harmonic distortion. The proposed system is composed of two conversion stages: the first, voltage-to-current, the second current-to-current via a three-phase CSI bridge modulated with the SVM technique. The stages are not completely decoupled from an electrical point of view; therefore, in order to mitigate the effects of these interactions, synchronization strategies have been adopted. Full article

The present paper proposes the use of fractional derivatives in the definition of sliding function, giving a new mode control applied to induction motor drives in electric vehicle (EV) applications. The proposed Fractional-Order Sliding Mode Direct Torque Control-Space Vector Modulation (FOSM-DTC-SVM) strategy aims to address the limitations of conventional control techniques and mitigate torque and flux ripples in induction motor systems. The paper first introduces the motivation for using fractional-order control methods to handle the nonlinear and fractional characteristics inherent in induction motor systems. The core describes the proposed FOSM-DTC-SVM control strategy, which leverages a fractional sliding function and the associated Lyapunov stability analysis. The efficiency of the proposed strategy is validated via three scenarios. (i) The first scenario, where the acceleration of the desired speed is defined by pulses, leading to Dirac impulses in its second derivative, demonstrates the advantage of the proposed control approach in tracking the desired speed while minimizing flux ripples and generating pulses in the rotor pulsation. (ii) The second scenario demonstrates the effectiveness of filtering the desired speed to eliminate Dirac impulses, resulting in smoother rotor pulsation variations and a slightly slower speed response while maintaining similar flux ripples and stator current characteristics. (iii) The third scenario consists of eliminating the fractional derivatives of the pulses existing in the expression of the control, leading to the elimination of Dirac impulses. These results demonstrate the potential of the FOSM-DTC-SVM to revolutionize the performance and efficiency of EVs. By incorporating fractional control in the control scheme for PV-powered EVs, the paper showcases a promising avenue for sustainable transportation. Full article

Incorporating AC-type flying capacitors (FC) between series-connected devices is an effective way to enhance the rated voltage for high-power applications based on current source converters (CSCs). Through appropriate modulation and FC voltage control, it is possible to achieve improved DC bus voltage quality with reduced common-mode voltage (CMV) and low dv/dt. On the other hand, the parallel CSC is a popular choice for increasing the system’s rated current to accommodate higher power applications. The use of interleaved modulation techniques can improve the harmonic performance of parallel converters while reducing the need for passive filters. The modular flying capacitor clamped (FCC)-CSC structure can combine these advantages, achieving higher rated power along with improved power quality on both the DC and AC sides. Moreover, the enhanced AC quality contributes to the regulation of FC voltage and further improves the DC-side voltage quality. This paper analyzes the operation principle of the parallel FCC-CSC structure and proposes an interleaved space vector modulation (SVM) method to enhance the harmonic performance of the AC output. Additionally, an optimized zero-state replacement (ZSR) based FC voltage control and a DC-link current balance strategy built on this control are introduced. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Full article

In this study, the analysis and control of a multi-phase linear induction motor loaded with a variable mechanical system are carried out. Mathematical models are established, and simulation results are analyzed for an improved proportional–integral–derivative controller with closed-loop vector control for PLIM. To make the PID controller more responsive to load thrust disturbances, a fuzzy PID load thrust observer was developed. The FPID is similarly based on space-vector modulation DTC technology to regulate the PLIM’s speed, flux, and thrust. The FPID output is used to calculate the reference thrust force, which is compared to the actual thrust value to calculate the second error. To maintain the linear speed of the PLIM at the specified reference values and at different load values, the FPID controller settings are adjusted. Four indicators were used to compare the capabilities of the FPID controller with those of the conventional PID controller in order to evaluate the performance of PLIM in both cases. These indices represent the individual SSE for each operational phase and the total SSE for the entire loading period. According to the simulation results, the FPID works better than a regular PID when used to adjust the operation of DTC-SVM to drive a PLIM to improve the overall system performance. The simulation results using MATLAB Simulink for a PLIM-drive system show that the proposed FPID control provides improved control behavior and operating performance with fast and accurate speed tracking. Full article

Human action recognition (HAR) as the most representative human-centred computer vision task is critical in human resource management (HRM), especially in human resource recruitment, performance appraisal, and employee training. Currently, prevailing approaches to human action recognition primarily emphasize either temporal or spatial features while overlooking the intricate interplay between these two dimensions. This oversight leads to less precise and robust action classification within complex human resource recruitment environments. In this paper, we propose a novel human action recognition methodology for human resource recruitment environments, which aims at symmetrically harnessing temporal and spatial information to enhance the performance of human action recognition. Specifically, we compute Depth Motion Maps (DMM) and Depth Temporal Maps (DTM) from depth video sequences as space and time descriptors, respectively. Subsequently, a novel feature fusion technique named Center Boundary Collaborative Canonical Correlation Analysis (CBCCCA) is designed to enhance the fusion of space and time features by collaboratively learning the center and boundary information of feature class space. We then introduce a spatio-temporal information filtration module to remove redundant information introduced by spatio-temporal fusion and retain discriminative details. Finally, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) is employed for human action recognition. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method has the ability to significantly improve human action recognition performance. Full article

Two-level DC/AC inverter topologies are widely used for low voltage and high voltage applications in power systems and industrial areas. Space Vector Modulation (SVM) is a popular Pulse-Width Modulation technique used for controlling the inverters and providing the efficient energy conversion from DC sources. However, applications of SVM-based studies are limited in the Power Electronics Laboratory (PEL) due to the vital risks associated with high voltage applications, and it is not easily learned through mathematical analysis and visual learning without implementation by undergraduate students. A simulation and experimental setup of an SVM-controlled two-level, three-phase inverter was presented in this study for undergraduate students to learn its basics in the PEL. Several programs were used to simulate the inverter in the classroom environment and to design a power circuit and microcontroller-based printed circuit board of the inverter for PEL experiments. The two case studies were given. In the case results, the output voltage waveforms of simulation and experimental inverters were compared to show the validation of simulation results. With this study, the students’ experience is enhanced in electronic circuit design, programming, coordination with hardware and software development activities, self-learning, and teamwork. Additionally, practical applications increase undergraduate students’ interest in Power Electronics Courses and reinforce their knowledge from lecture and laboratory studies. Full article

The key goal of this effort is to develop an efficient control system for a three-phase cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter powered by the photovoltaic (PV) system. The power for the system is generated through the use of PV modules, which serve as DC inputs for the cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. The authors aim to achieve a nearly sinusoidal signal at the voltage level and are specifically focused on minimizing the total harmonic distortion (THD) to the smallest possible value. Hence, an advanced N-level space vector modulation (SVM) is developed to ensure an appropriate control for the cascaded inverter. The aim is to design an effective control strategy to increase inverter efficacy and, thus, supply the best output quality. In addition, a robust approach to the maximum power point (MPP) tracking (MPPT) technique is developed based on an adaptive perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm to ensure superior tracking of the MPP. The developed algorithm eliminates 90% of the power curve area in the search space process and only maintains 10% of the area that includes the MPP. Each PV system employs its own improved MPPT control. The numerical results confirm that the enhanced P&O algorithm attains a precise response with superior efficiency and a fast response under the fast alteration of environmental conditions. Hence, the energy loss is reduced. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of this study, highlighting the high efficiency of the control strategy and the enhanced performance of the proposed scheme with lesser THD values. Full article