Research and Development of Adjustable Discontinuous Pulse Width Modulation Method for Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverter

Continuous pulse width modulation (CPWM) and discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM) strategies are used to control voltage source inverter operation. CPWM strategies allow for the reduction of total harmonic distortion values, while DPWM strategies provide a more effective reduction in inverter switching losses. The paper is devoted to the problem of improving the three-phase voltage source inverter efficiency by a controlled transition from CPWM to DPWM. The article proposes an adjustable discontinuous pulse width modulation (ADPWM) method, which means a transition from space vector PWM (refers to CPWM strategies) to DPWM in all inverter phases when the switches’ temperatures exceed the allowable value in at least one of the inverter phases. The method flowchart is presented and an algorithm for modifying the envelope curve within one sector is given. In order to test the ADPWM method a Simulink-model of a three-phase voltage source inverter and its control system were developed. A study of the proposed ADPWM method’s efficiency in comparison with CPWM, PCDPWM and NCDPWM methods was carried out using a Simulink-model. It was established that the proposed ADPWM method provides dynamic losses reduction in the inverter switches by 2.86 times compared to CPWM and by 1.89 times compared to PCDPWM and NCDPWM methods. Power supply systems for medium and high-power AC motors provide a promising area for application of the proposed ADPWM method.