Current Source Inverters for PM machine control

Brushless permanent magnet (PM) drive systems offer a high efficiency over a wide power/torque-speed operating envelope, however, there are a number of problems that may limit, or complicate, their operation particularly in automotive and aerospace vehicular applications, i.e. the loss of control of the power silicon gate drive circuitry during flux-weakening operation, control of high-speed low-inductance machines and the presence of large electrolytic capacitors on the inverter DC link. Current source inverters (CSI´s) could potentially address some or all of the above issues. However, they have found little application to date due to the wide use of the voltage source inverter (VSI) circuit topology. This paper presents an investigation into the applicability of CSI´s for control of PM drive systems with vehicular applications a main consideration. A simulation model is discussed and results compared with test bench evaluation of a representative PM drive system and dynamometer.