Three-phase drive systems based on OEW configurations with reduced controlled switch count

This paper proposes ten alternative drive topologies with reduced number of controlled switches. The topologies are composed by three-level (3L) and two-level (2L) legs combinations. All of them aim to feed a three-phase machine based on the concept of open-end-winding (OEW). Conventional OEW configurations are considered for comparison purposes. The proposed topologies are named accordingly to the number of levels associated in each leg. For example, a topology with one 3L leg and five 2L legs is named 322-222. The other configurations are named in a similar manner. The OEW based systems using proposed configurations aim to give intermediate alternative solution in terms of cost-benefit rather than using conventional configurations. Some simulation and experimental results are presented in order to validate the theoretical approaches.