Performance analysis of multi carrier PWM techniques for a 5-phase three level NPC inverter in EV applications

Abstract

Multi-phase multilevel inverters have become more popular in contemporary applications due to their many benefits, which include lower switching losses, decreased common mode voltage, and reduced stress from voltage on switches. This study focuses on enhancing total harmonic distortion (THD) performance in a five-phase multilevel neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter using various multi-carrier pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques, including PD, POD, APOD, IC, PSC, and VFC. These approaches are particularly suitable for electric vehicle and industrial motor applications. Several PWM approaches were used in the SIMULINK environment to model and simulate a 5-phase, 3-level NPC inverter. In this study, the performance of load voltage THD is compared using R and RL loads connected to a multilevel inverter. Additionally, 5-phase induction motor and permanent magnet synchronous motor models are developed as loads for electric vehicle applications, and variations in torque, speed, and stator current are analyzed. The PD modulation technique showed the lowest THD among the various PWM methods, demonstrating its effectiveness in maximizing inverter performance.