Parallel connected GaN E‐HEMT VSI‐based servo drives for PMSMs

Abstract

The operation of parallel‐connected servo drives has the advantages of increasing the torque (hence the power) capacity, reliability, redundancy and modularity. However, smaller discrepancies of the system clocks of the independent microcontrollers, asynchronous pulse width modulation (PWM) carrier signals and hardware differences can make the output voltages of the parallel modules non‐identical, which results in circulating currents. These circulating currents limit the parallel operation, introduce additional power dissipation, cause unbalanced power distribution and degrade the control performance. To eliminate the circulating currents separated DC supplies, coupled inductors (CIs), PWM techniques, modified control techniques etc. are proposed in the literature. In this study, a fault‐tolerant parallel‐connected gallium nitride enhancement‐mode high electron mobility transistor voltage source inverter‐based servo drive scheme that eliminates the need for CIs and separate DC supplies and also enables the use of a standard proportional‐integral current control and a standard space vector PWM approach is proposed and tested. To evaluate the performances of the proposed scheme, up to six servo drives (limit‐6 × 7 Arms) are connected in parallel and tested under various conditions with a 24 V permanent magnet synchronous motor (nominal‐61.9 Arms). The results show that the parallel operation not only increases the torque capacity of the system but also increases modularity, flexibility, reliability and also redundancy.