Hybrid Active Modulation Strategy for Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Converters in High-Speed Aerospace Drives

Guo, Feng; Yang, Tao; Diab, Ahmed M.; Huang, Zhen; Yeoh, Seang Shen; Bozhko, Serhiy; Wheeler, Patrick

Abstract

In the aircraft electric starter/generator system, the three-level neutral-point-clamped converters play a crucial role in driving turbofan engines and delivering onboard electrical power. However, the conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategies face the challenge of capacitor voltage deviation, large common-mode voltage (CMV), and extra switching losses. Regarding the characteristics of the studied wide-speed range aerospace drives, the modulation scheme needs to be designed according to its operating conditions. To tackle the above demerits, a hybrid active modulation approach is, hence, proposed in this article. By the coordinate-based PWM, the nearest-three-vector is used in the startup process as the neutral-point (NP) voltage balance can be realized with fewer switching intervals; when the drives run in generation mode, an enhanced carrier-based virtual-space-vector modulation technique is involved, which aims to eliminate NP voltage fluctuation, suppress CMV, and simplify the modulation process. With the help of bias-offset injection in the time and voltage domain, capacitor voltages can be effectively kept at a balanced state even though the imbalance exists. The validity of the presented algorithm is proved by simulation and experimental results obtained from a 45 kW, 32 kr/min aircraft starter/generator test rig.

Citation

Guo, F., Yang, T., Diab, A. M., Huang, Z., Yeoh, S. S., Bozhko, S., & Wheeler, P. (2023). Hybrid Active Modulation Strategy for Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Converters in High-Speed Aerospace Drives. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 70(4), 3449-3460. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2022.3176309

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2022
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 17, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
• Print ISSN: 0278-0046
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-9948
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 3449-3460
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2022.3176309
• Keywords: Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Control and Systems Engineering
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/14895106
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9782081