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This study addresses the calculation of current total harmonic distortion (THD) for three-phase (3P) pulse-width modulation (PWM) inverters. First, it demonstrates how an analytical approach to PWM current ripple normalised mean square (NMS) calculation introduced in the late 1980s for a two-level (2L) inverter can be used for current THD evaluation. Second, it is shown how to evaluate current THD for a three-level (3L) 3P inverter using the current ripple NMS concept. Though considered is a 3P cascaded inverter with one H-bridge per phase, the results are applicable to popular 3L neutral point clamped (T-type) and flying capacitor inverters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses theoretical calculation of a single-phase multilevel pulsewidth modulation (PWM) inverter current total harmonic distortion (THD). Analytical approach introduced in late 1980s for a two-level inverter is generalized for an arbitrary level count for a single-phase inverter. Although the obtained closed-form piecewise analytical solutions assume (infinitely) large ratio of switching and fundamental frequencies and pure inductive load, they are practically very accurate for the ratios of (apparent) switching and fundamental frequencies larger than 25–30 and inductance-dominated loads. Along with strict mathematical solutions, simple accurate Bessel function approximation and hyperbolic average trend one are suggested. The formulas clearly reveal a single-phase PWM inverter current THD dependence on modulation index for an arbitrary voltage level count and are easily modified to cover grid-connected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many recent multilevel inverter papers end up with voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) values obtained from numerical voltage spectrum calculations (measurements). Motivated by IEEE Standard 519, a part of the multilevel research community uses a limited harmonic count to evaluate the multilevel voltage quality. First, this causes significant voltage THD underestimation, particularly for relatively high frequency PWM. Second, for a three-phase star-connected balanced load with an isolated neutral and phase symmetric modulation strategy, the calculated load line and phase voltage THD become different. However, simple considerations show that line and phase voltage THDs are essentially the same in this case. It may be difficult to judge about the multilevel voltage quality given a numerically calculated (measured) voltage THD value that may be subject to computation errors. Presented are simple smooth hyperbolic voltage THD upper and lower bound approximations for single- and three-phase inverters with nearest synchronous switching. They are valid for arbitrary modulation indices and uniformly distributed level counts and may practically serve as good reference values. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Voltage total harmonic distortion and quadratic voltage ripple criteria are accepted figures of merit of a multilevel pulse width modulation (PWM) converter voltage quality. The dominating frequency domain approach does not deliver simple closed-form expressions and practically requires accounting up to 40–50 switching harmonics. Assuming infinitely high switching frequency, suggested time domain approach to a multilevel multiphase PWM voltage quality evaluation provides closed-form piece-wise analytical solutions. These simple formulas clearly reveal the dependence on modulation index for arbitrary voltage level and odd phase numbers. The results are applicable to any type of multilevel converters (including interleaved, open winding and other) operated with nearest level/nearest space vector modulation and relatively high switching frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a comments on the paper, "Nearest and non-nearest three vector modulations of NPCI using two-level space vector diagram - a novel approach," (Babu, N. and Agarwal, P.), IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 1999-2009, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascade H-bridge (CHB) inverter is an attractive choice for integration of DC sources of different nature, e.g., for distributed generation with energy storage, photovoltaic generation, etc. In general, non-equal DC voltage sources can affect the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the CHB by introducing undesirable low-frequency subharmonics. This paper investigates different level-shifted (LS) and phase-shifted (PS) pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies for single- and three-phase cascade H-bridge inverters with non-equal DC sources from the load current THD minimization perspective. The best current quality is provided by LS PWM, as reported in the literature. The paper provides a simple time domain explanation of LS PWM superiority. However, PS PWM may be a preferable choice for practical applications due to fair power and loss sharing across individual H-bridges. The paper explains how to obtain the best current quality by PS PWM carriers' order arrangement (DC sources switching sequence selection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a discussion on the following paper, ?Electrical machine PWM loss evaluation basics (Ruderman, A. and Welch,R.) in Proc. Int. Conf. Energy Efficiency Motor Driven Syst.,Sep. 2005, vol. 1, pp. 58?68. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]