Hardware-Based Comparative Analysis of Multilevel Inverter Topologies for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation


Loading...

Date

2023

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

With today's demand for increased industrial process automation a trend towards Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs) has evolved allowing a low complexity and compact installation of the drive system. Especially servo applications with high short-term overload requirements (e.g., three times the nominal current for several seconds) are a thermal challenge for the power electronics. Consequently, high efficiencies and power densities are key requirements of these motor-integrated Variable Speed Drives (VSDs). Multi-Level (ML) inverter topologies allow small LC output filter designs and benefit from utilizing low-voltage semiconductors with superior conduction and switching performance, and thus represent an interesting approach for future IMDs. In this work an experimental comparison between three different 800V DC link supplied drive systems is presented, namely between a 3L Flying Capacitor Converter (3L-FCC) (employing 650V GaN HEMTs), a 7L Flying Capacitor Converter (7L-FCC) (using 200V Si MOSFETs) and its promising alternative, a 7L Hybrid Active Neutral-Point Clamped Converter (7L-HANPC) (using both, 650V GaN HEMTs and 200V Si MOSFETs). All three systems are realized as hardware demonstrators for the same specifications, i.e., for integration into a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with a case temperature of 90∘C , 7.5kW nominal output power at > 99% efficiency and a short-term overload capability of three times the nominal current for 3s . Thereby, the efficiencies and the thermally critical overload capability are experimentally verified. Overall, the 3L-FCC shows the best performance trade-off with lowest complexity and/or highest reliability and minimal control effort.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

4

Pages / Article No.

934 - 944

Publisher

IEEE

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Integrated motor drive; multi-level inverter; overload operation; variable speed drives; Variable speed drive; variable speed drive; WBG power semiconductors

Organisational unit

03573 - Kolar, Johann W. (emeritus) / Kolar, Johann W. (emeritus) check_circle

Notes

Funding

Related publications and datasets