Analytical evaluation of harmonic distortion in PWM AC drives using the notion of stator flux ripple

This paper presents a method to evaluate harmonic distortion due to space vector-based pulse-width modulation (PWM) strategies for ac drives. The proposed method is general enough to deal with division of zero vector time as well as division of active vector time within a subcycle. The method is based on the notion of stator flux ripple, which is a measure of line current ripple. Expressions for RMS ripple over a subcycle are derived for six switching sequences in terms of magnitude and angle of the reference vector, and subcycle duration. The sequences considered include those involving division of active vector time within a subcycle. Further, analytical closed form expressions are derived for the total RMS harmonic distortion factor corresponding to six space vector-based synchronized PWM strategies, proposed recently, for high power drives. The square of the distortion factor turns out to be a quadratic polynomial in modulation index (M), and the coefficients differ with PWM strategies and pulse numbers. These expressions are validated through Fourier analysis as well as experimental measurements. The concept of stator flux ripple provides insight into current ripple as well as torque ripple corresponding to different sequences and strategies.