Design of Variable Pole Phase Induction Motor Drive With Hybrid Four Quadrant Switch Configuration

Abstract

In electric traction applications, researchers areemploying pole phase modulation (PPM) based multiphaseinduction machines (MIM) to achieve a broader range ofspeed and torque, allowing for dynamic switching betweenthe various pole phase configurations. The existing literaturestudies have concentrated more on various inverter topolo gies for variable pole phase-based induction machines(VPIM). Here, the torque ripple and dc bus voltage utilization(DBVU) issues are tackled with multiple four quadrantswitches along with 3-ϕ SVPWM technology. However, thedesign of the VPIM drive system w.r.t the converter andmachine is crucial, which is not explored in previous studies.This article aims to bridge this gap by describing design con siderations of the inverter configuration as well as the motorfor VPIM drives. A simple 2-level 9-ϕ inverter with a hybridfour quadrant switch (HFQS) is proposed for VPIM withphase grouping and isolated neutral techniques. This HFQSis realized with one controllable switch and six power diodeswith snubber protection to limit the voltage surges duringthe transitions from one pole to another pole combination.The design considerations of the dc bus, switch selection forthe 9-ϕ inverter, and design of a proposed HFQS are pre sented in detail. It further presents complete switching lossanalysis, conduction loss analysis, and overall inverter aswell as motor efficiency. The 3-ϕ carrier-based SVPWMensures better DBVU, and phase-shifted carriers give theenhanced torque ripple in the high pole mode of a 9-ϕ VPIMdrive. The proposed inverter design for a 9-ϕ VPIM has beenimplemented and validated with Maxwell 2-D, along withSimplorer, and the laboratory prototype of a 5 hp motor. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.