The Use of Harmonic Distortion to Increase the Output Voltage of a Three-Phase PWM Inverter

By adding a measure of third harmonic to the output of each phase of a three-phase inverter, it is possible to obtain a line-to-line output voltage that is 15 percent greater than that obtainable when pure sinusoidal modulation is employed. The line-to-line voltage is undistorted. The method permits the inverter to deliver an output voltage approximately equal to the voltage of the ac supply to the inverter. Thus an induction motor of standard rating with respect to the ac supply to the inverter can deliver very nearly full power at rated speed when supplied from the inverter. This is achieved without pulse dropping or any other form of mode-changing.