A Novel Multilevel Inverter Circuit for the Performance Enhancement of Direct Torque Controlled Induction Motor

Abstract

Induction motor is the most sought after motor in the industry for excellent performance characteristics and robustness. Developments in the Power Electronic circuitry have revolutionised the induction motor industry leading to the developments in various control strategies and circuits for motor control. Direct Torque Control (DTC) is one of the excellent control strategies preferred by industries for controlling the torque and flux in an induction machine. The main drawback of DTC is the presence of torque ripple which is slightly more than the acceptable limit. There are various parameters that introduce ripples in the electromagnetic torque, one of them being the type of inverter circuit. There are various types of inverter circuits available and the effect of each of them in the production of torque ripple is different. This work is an attempt to identify the influence of various multilevel inverter circuits on the torque ripple level and to propose the best inverter circuit. The influence of multilevel diode clamped inverter and cascaded H bridge inverter circuits on torque ripple minimization, is analysed using simulation studies for identifying the most suitable multilevel inverter circuit which gives minimum torque ripple. The results obtained from the simulation studies are validated by hardware implementation on 0.75 kW induction motor.