• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.702-713
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• 2018

Power loss reduction and total harmonic distortion(THD) minimization are two important goals of improving three-level inverters. In this paper, an optimized pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy that can reduce switching losses and balance the neutral point with an optional THD of three-level neutral-point-clamped inverters is proposed. An analysis of the two-level discontinuous PWM (DPWM) strategy indicates that the optimal goal of the proposed PWM strategy is to reduce switching losses to a minimum without increasing the THD compared to that of traditional SVPWMs. Thus, the analysis of the two-level DPWM strategy is introduced. Through the rational allocation of the zero vector, only two-phase switching devices are active in each sector, and their switching losses can be reduced by one-third compared with those of traditional PWM strategies. A detailed analysis of the impact of small vectors, which correspond to different zero vectors, on the neutral-point potential is conducted, and a hysteresis control method is proposed to balance the neutral point. This method is simple, does not judge the direction of midpoint currents, and can adjust the switching times of devices and the fluctuation of the neutral-point potential by changing the hysteresis loop width. Simulation and experimental results prove the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed strategy.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2085-2098
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• 2016

Laminated busbars with a low stray inductance are widely used in NPC three-level inverters, even though some of them have poor performances in heat equilibrium and overvoltage suppression. Therefore, a theoretical method is in need to establish an accurate mathematical model of laminated busbars and to calculate the impedance and stray inductance of each commutation loop to improve the heat equilibrium and overvoltage suppression performance. Firstly, an equivalent circuit of a NPC three-level inverter laminated busbar was built with an analysis of the commutation processes. Secondly, on the basis of a 3D (three dimensional) cubical thermal model and mirror circulation theory, a supersymmetric mirror circulation 3D cubical thermal model was built. Based on this, the laminated busbar was decomposed in 3D space to calculate the equivalent resistance and stray inductance in each commutation loop. Finally, the model and analysis results were put into a busbar design, simulation and experiments, whose results demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed method.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2020

This paper presents a 3-level, 2-level SVPWM technique with 100 kHz switching using Verilog HDL, one of the languages of FPGA. In the case of IGBT devices mainly used in inverters, they have a switching frequency around 20kHz. Recent research and development of next-generation power semiconductor devices such as GAN has enabled switching of more than 100kHz, which can miniaturize power converters, and apply various new algorithms due to the injection of harmonics. In the existing system using the IGBT, the control using the DSP is common, but the controller configuration for 100 kHz switching requires the use of FPGA. Therefore, this paper explains the theory and implementation of SVPWM applied to two-level and three-level inverters using FPGAs and verifies the performance through the output waveform. In addition, this paper implements 3-level SVPWM by using only one carrier instead of using two carriers in the conventional method.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers B
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.265-270
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• 2006

In this paper EMI problems with induction motor drive system using multi-level inverters are investigated. The high power multi-level inverter usually operates with low switching frequency and produces large noises. Generally, EMI consists of the conduction component through source lines and emission component emitted to the space. This conduction component can be classified to the common-mode between source line and ground, and the normal-mode between lines. The EMI filters for the induction motor drive system are designed and implemented to reduce EMI noise. Finally the designed system is verified by the experiment. The experimental results show that both the normal mode and common mode noises are greatly reduced compared to the system without filters.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2001

This paper proposes a SSSC based on 3-level half-bridge inverters. The dynamic characteristic of the proposed SSSC was analyzed by EMTP simulation and a scaled hardware model, assuming that the SSSC is inserted in the transmission line of the one-machine-infinite-but power system. The proposed SSC has six 3-level half-bridge inverters per phase, which operates in PWM mode. The proposed SSSC generates a quasi-sinusoidal output voltage by 90 degree phase shift to the line current. The proposed SSSC does not require the coupling transformer for voltage injection, and has a flexibility in operation voltage by increasing the number of series connection.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.25-28
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• 1996

Recently, AC variable-speed motors are used for many steel rolling mill drive systems, because of their low maintenance and enhanced control performance. We have been applied GTO inverters for these AC motor drive systems since 1993. We have developed world largest 6-inch diameter GTO and large capacity 3-level GTO inverter up to 20000(kVA). As an example, in this paper, we describe the main circuit, system arrangement and control features of the 6-inches GTO inverters to drive rougher mills for hot strip mill of Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. The motor capacity is 6000(kW), and it's overload is 250(%).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

When medium and large induction motors are driven by 2-level inverters with low switching frequency, induction motors provoke deteriorated performances resulted from large torque ripples, flux ripples, and large current distortion. Model predictive torque control(MPTC) for a fast torque control of induction motors is also suffered from large torque ripples when the induction motors are fed by 2-level inverters that are based on 6 active voltage vectors with low switching frequency restricted. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new MPTC method based on both a 12 active voltage vector and an optimized duty ratio calculation. The proposed control strategy illustrates its effectiveness under the various operating conditions through simulation works.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers B
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 1999

A three-level ZCT(Zero Current Transition) IGBT inverter is presented for high power IGBT inverters. The concept of ZCT for the conventional boost converter is extended to the three-level inverter. Moreover, in order to improve the reliability of inverter, midpoint charge balance problem of the three-level inverter is analyzed with respect 150kw, 20kHz prototype are presented to verify the principle of ZCT Operation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.585-587
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• 1996

A simple regenerative snubber structure is proposed, which is applicable to multi-level inverter with series-connected GTOs for high power applications. The novel snubber structure can solve large energy loss problems and guarantee safe operation of power converter can be achieved. The proposed new snubber has the potential of high performance and high reliability and is particularly suitable to high power and multi-level application with series connected power devices. The snubber voltage and current waveforms are analized and shown the simulation and experimental results for a GTO 3-level inverter circuit with inductive load.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1458-1469
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• 2018

This paper proposes a novel common-mode voltage (CMV) elimination (CMV-EL) method based on model predictive control (MPC) to eliminate CMV for three-level T-type inverters (3LT2Is). In the proposed MPC method, only six medium and one zero voltage vectors (VVs) (6MV1Z) that generate zero CMV are considered as candidates to perform the MPC. Moreover, the influence of dead-time effects on the CMV of the MPC-based 6MV1Z method is investigated, and the candidate VVs are redesigned by pre-excluding the VVs that will cause CMV fluctuations during the dead time from 6MV1Z. Only three or five VVs are included to perform optimization in every control period, which can significantly reduce the computational complexity. Thus, a small control period can be implemented in the practical applications to achieve improved grid current performance. With the proposed CMV-EL method, the CMV of the $3LT^2Is$ can be effectively eliminated. In addition, the proposed CMV-EL method can balance the neutral point potentials (NPPs) and yield satisfactory performance for grid current tracking in steady and dynamic states. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.