Harmonic Filters for Six-Phase and Other Multiphase Motors on Voltage Source Inverters

Inverter-driven motors having five, six, or more phases have smaller torque pulsations and lower rotor I2R loss due to harmonics than do their three-phase counterparts. However, they generally have higher stator harmonic currents. For example, six-phase motors, supplied by a six step voltage source inverters have fifth and seventh harmonic currents which are from two to five times as large as in a comparable three-phase motor. If the motor has five or more phases, these currents can be substantially reduced by the harmonic filter described. The filter consists of transformer-like devices connected in the leads between the inverter and motor. The coils on these are interconnected in a prescribed way so that they add negligible impedance for fundamental currents, but they add considerable impedance for most harmonics. Since the filters do not affect fundamental current, they do not affect the speed-torque characteristic. These filters are described for any number of phases, and equations to determine their inductance values for the various harmonics are developed. Their effectiveness is demonstrated by experimental results.