Four-leg inverters have been selected as one of the preferred power converter topologies for applications that require a precise control of neutral current, like active filters. The main advantage of this topology lies in an extended range for the zero sequence voltages and currents. However, the addition of a fourth leg extends the space vectors from two to three dimensions, making the selection of the modulation vectors more complex. Most of the algorithms that deal with this problem require an /spl alpha//spl beta//spl gamma/ transformation. This paper presents a new space vector modulation algorithm using abc coordinates (the phase voltages) avoiding the /spl alpha//spl beta//spl gamma/ transformation. Thanks to the use of abc coordinates, the algorithm is much simpler and more intuitive than in /spl alpha//spl beta//spl gamma/ representation, drastically reducing the complexity of modulation algorithm and the computational load associated to it.

In this paper, a novel three-dimensional (3-D) space-vector algorithm for four-leg multilevel converters is presented. It can be applied to active power filters or neutral-current compensator applications for mitigating harmonics and zero-sequence components using abc coordinates (referred from now on this paper as natural coordinates). This technique greatly simplifies the selection of the 3-D region where a given voltage vector is supposed to be found. Compared to a three-level modulation algorithm for three-leg multilevel converters, this algorithm does not increase its complexity and the calculations of the active vectors with the corresponding switching time that generate the reference voltage vector. In addition, the low-computational cost of the proposed algorithm is always the same and it is independent of the number of levels of the converter.

Space vector modulation (SVM) technique has become a standard method for the impression of voltage references in conventional three-phase voltage source inverters. The method is nowadays used in multiphase (more than three) drives, where linear and overmodulation regions are covered only for the five-phase case. This work proposes a general SVM procedure for linear and overmodulation regions in n -phase drives (being n any odd number, ) and simplifies the extension of SVM to the multiphase case. The proposed method achieves the reference voltage at the fundamental frequency while reducing introduced harmonic components in the overmodulation region compared to previous proposals.

This paper focuses on the steady-state response of existing methods for computing the reference current of active power filters. For each class of methods, the main source of discrepancy between the load harmonic current and the computed reference current is identified and the frequency spectrum of the resulting error is analytically determined. Although this topic has been partially addressed in previous publications, the proposed frequency-domain approach provides valuable qualitative information about how the errors are produced and distributed, which is masked when the analysis is carried out in the time domain. First, the frequency-domain formulation is separately presented for each method. Then, a comparison of the resulting errors is performed on a case study. Finally, some experimental results are given to validate the proposed frequency-domain analysis.

The industrial application of electric machines has grown in the last decades, thanks to the development of microprocessors and power converters, which have permitted their use as variable-speed drives. Although three-phase machines are the common trend, the interest of the research community has recently focused on machines with more than three phases, known as multiphase machines. The principal reason lies in the exploitation of their advantages in terms of reliability, i.e., post-fault operating capability. Additionally, multiphase machines provide a better current distribution among phases, and lower current harmonic production in the power converter, than conventional three-phase machines. However, multiphase drive applications require the development of complex controllers to regulate the torque (or speed) and flux of the machine. In this regard, direct torque controllers have appeared as a viable alternative due to their easy formulation and high flexibility to incorporate control objectives. However, these controllers face some peculiarities and limitations in their use that require attention. This work aims to tackle direct torque control as a viable alternative for the regulation of multiphase drives. Special attention will be paid to the development of the control technique and the expected benefits and limitations in the obtained results. Case examples based on symmetrical five-phase induction machines with distributed windings in the motoring mode of operation will be used to this end.