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Modular motor drives can be considered as multi‐agent systems, in which the agents can work together to reach a common goal. One agent in such a modular motor drive consists of only a subset of the machine phases and power electronic converter modules, and is equipped with a dedicated controller. When the dc‐links of the different agents are connected in series to a single voltage source, giving rise to a so‐called stacked polyphase bridges converter, the power electronic converter components can have low voltage ratings. However, a voltage balancing controller must ensure that the total dc‐link voltage is distributed evenly among the agents when working in motoring mode. The goal of this research is to propose a multi‐agent voltage balancing algorithm based on dynamic average consensus, which depends solely on local computations, local measurements, and neighbour‐to‐neighbour communication. The scalability and reliability of the modular hardware are hence extended towards the control. Simulations and experimental results on a 4 kW modular axial‐flux PMSM demonstrate the feasibility of the concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stacked polyphase bridge converter consists of multiple standard, three‐phase two‐level voltage source inverters connected in series to the same dc voltage source. The authors present a decentralised and dynamic dc‐bus reconfiguration strategy for this type of converter. The innovation of the proposed strategy lies in its ability to isolate or reactivate one of the inverters in the series connection online, even in motoring mode, enabling increased fault tolerance and an extended speed range. Both the required hardware alterations and the multi‐agent control strategy are addressed. Its major benefits compared to the state‐of‐the‐art are that only two additional active, unidirectional semiconductor switches are required per inverter, and that the control is based on local computations, local measurements and neighbour‐to‐neighbour communication only. Hence, the scalability and reliability of the hardware are extended towards the control. Simulations and experimental results on a 4 kW modular axial‐flux PMSM prove the feasibility of the concept, and validate that the dc‐bus can be reconfigured in 100 ms, without torque interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiphase drives have received a lot of interest because of their several features over traditional three-phase systems for high-power applications. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) approaches are necessary to regulate the supply for multiphase ac drives. As a result, it is vital to continually improve the modulation and control approaches used to upgrade output power converters' quality. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the 2L + 2M and 6L space vector pulse-width modulation (SVPWM) techniques applied to a five-phase two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) fed an inductive (R-L) load. The comparative evaluation is based on measuring the inverter switching losses, the total harmonic distortion (THD) values, and the common mode voltage (CMV) under different operation scenarios. A system model is carried out by MATLAB/Simulink. An experimental prototype is constructed in the lab to validate the theoretical analysis. Simulation results for the system based on the two SVPWM techniques are obtained at different modulation indices and different output frequencies and are confirmed by the experimental results. It has been found that the peak-to-peak CMV of the 6L method is 80% lower than that of the 2L + 2M method. Moreover, 6L SVPWM offers better DC-link utilization compared to 2L + 2M SVPWM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution of electric machines requires innovative approaches to boost performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Additive Manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technique, reshaping the landscape of electric machine components, ranging from magnetic materials to windings and extending to thermal management. In the area of magnetic materials, AM's capacity to fabricate intricate structures optimizes magnetic flux dynamics, yielding advanced shape-profile cores and self-coating laminations for superior performance. In windings, AM's prowess is evident through innovative concepts, effectively mitigating AC conduction effects while reducing weight. Furthermore, AM revolutionizes thermal management, as exemplified by 3D-printed ceramic heat exchangers, intricate cooling channels, and novel housing designs, all contributing to enhanced thermal efficiency and power density. The integration of AM not only transcends conventional manufacturing constraints but also promises to usher in an era of unprecedented electric machine innovation, addressing the intricate interplay of magnetic, winding, and thermal dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]