Design and Development of a Multiphase Inverter for Automotive Applications

Abstract

This work describes the development of a multiphase inverter that can operate as a platform for driving and testing electrical machines with up to 15 phases, in addition, it can operate with a fundamental frequency of up to 1 kHz and a switching frequency of 100 kHz. Therefore, a multiphase voltage source inverter (VSI) topology using SiC MOSFETs and approved components for automotive applications was designed and constructed. The developed platform is composed of independent power modules and a control module with technology that uses only a single microcontroller capable of generating all signals with pulse width modulation (PWM). To validate the inverter, experimental tests were carried out with a YASA (Yokeless and Segmented Armature) machine that can operate with 3, 5, or 15 phases and also with multistar connections, one with three independent systems of five phases and another with five independent three-phase systems. Experimental results show that the inverter is capable of driving and testing multiphase machines with a wide variety of electrical connections using high fundamental and carrier frequencies. Therefore, the developed platform is an important tool that allows the testing of multiphase and multi-star electrical machines operating under the most diverse configurations and operating conditions.

Dispositivo para Medição de Parâmetros Internos, Diagnóstico de Falhas e Previsão de Vida Útil em Capacitores Eletrolíticos de Conversores Utilizados em Veículos Elétricos

“…Since the magnetic flux density vectors are mainly in the axial direction, due to the yokeless segmented armature, it is possible to use laminated electrical steel with oriented grains in this topology of electrical machine. This special feature of this topology allows obtaining even higher levels of torque per active volume, and higher power and efficiency [12]. The study carried out in this paper uses the prototype of the YASA machine designed in [11].…”

“…It was shown that torque density is improved and torque ripple is reduced with the increase in the number of phases. A following work has developed a multiphase inverter to test multi-star and multiphase electrical machines [12], and the machine designed by [11] was tested with several different electrical connections. It was shown in [12], e.g., that the multiphase machine does not lose synchronization even when one or two phases are open, which demonstrates the faulttolerant characteristic of the multiphase machine.…”

“…A following work has developed a multiphase inverter to test multi-star and multiphase electrical machines [12], and the machine designed by [11] was tested with several different electrical connections. It was shown in [12], e.g., that the multiphase machine does not lose synchronization even when one or two phases are open, which demonstrates the faulttolerant characteristic of the multiphase machine. However, previous works have not developed and validated dynamic models, and have not elaborated Field-Oriented Control drives for a YASA machine that can operate with three or five phases.…”