EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS OF A THREE-LEVEL VOLTAGE SOURCE

INVERTER WITH DOUBLE HYSTERESIS-BAND CURRENT CONTROL

AND HYBRID PWM-SVM VOLTAGE CONTROL

Keywords: Three-Level Inverter, Double Hysteresis-Band Current Control, Hybrid PWM-SVM Voltage
Control, Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine.
Abstract.
This paper presents the experimental results of a Diode-Clamped Three-Level Inverter driving a 7.5kW
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine. Two different control techniques has been tested for the power
converter control: a Hybrid PWM-SVM Voltage Control strategy and a Double Hysteresis-Band Current
Control strategy.

Introduction.
The reduction of switching frequency and the voltage supported by each device are the most important
advantages of the Three-Level Voltage Source Inverter topology, used in medium and high voltage
applications. Some control strategies have been developed in order to control this kind of inverters. The
most extended control system for three-level inverters is the application of the Space Vector Modulation
(SVM) technique [1],[4],[8],[11]. This method gives a very good line current with a low switching
frequency and also permits the possibility of controlling the neutral point voltage. However, a powerful
microprocessor or DSP is required due to the complexity of the involved calculations.
In a first stage, an Hybrid PWM-SVM Control is tested in the Three-Level Voltage Inverter. This
technique is based on the classic PWM voltage control, but using a modulating signal obtained from the
Space Vector Modulation theory. This strategy controls directly the voltage supplied to the load by the
inverter. In some applications, as wind energy generation, it is more interesting to control the current
supplied by the inverter because it is proportional to the machine electromagnetic torque, and this is the
way to reduce the power oscillations introduced into the electric network, come from the wind turbine.
An appropriate strategy is been tested to be applied to a 1.2 MW three-level VSI driving a multipole
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator in a Wind-Generation Plant.
Therefore, a current strategy for the three-level inverter control is chosen to be used in this application. A
double hysteresis-band current control strategy is defined to control the line current by means of varying
the phase voltage between +Vdc/2, 0 and –Vdc/2. This strategy is based on the classical control applied to
two-level inverters, where a reference current is compared with the actual current by means of a
hysteresis comparator. The difference in a three-level inverter is that three voltage levels can be applied
to each phase. Two hysteresis bands (Upper and Lower Commutation Bands) are defined around the
current reference value. When the Upper Band is working –Vdc/2 and 0 volts will be applied. When the
Lower Band is working, 0 and +Vdc/2 volts will be applied [5],[6].

V di 
T1 slope =  load + ref  = 0
 L dt 
Iref (Reference Current) -V DC/2
T2
-VDC/2 0
Upper Commutation Band
-VDC/2 0
0
Iref (Reference Current) To DC
Middle
0 Point 0
Lower Commutation Band T3 +VDC/2 Band
0 change
Iref (Reference Current )
+VDC/2
+ VDC/2
T4

Lower Band Upper Band

Figure 1. Double Hysteresis-Band Current Control Strategy.

Hybrid PWM-SVM Voltage Control for the Three-Level Inverter

In a first stage, a Hybrid PWM-SVM voltage control for the inverter is tested in the prototype, driving a
7.5kW permanent magnets synchronous machine. This control is based on the comparison between a
carrier signal and two modulating signals. But these modulating signals are not sinusoidal like the
conventional PWM strategy. They are based on the phase voltages obtained during a complete
commutation period with the Space Vector Modulation (SVM) technique [12],[13]. The main advantages

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of this strategy is that a lower DC voltage is needed for a given load voltage (15% lower), an easy way to
balance the DC capacitors voltages and a very low THD is obtained when an optimised switching pattern
is used. Figure 2 shows some simulation results with Saber for the modulation signals and the line
voltages obtained with the optimised switching pattern.
Graph3 Graph3

3.0 3.0
3000.0

2.0 2.0 1500.0

1.0 1.0 0.0

-1500.0
0.0 0.0

-3000.0
-1.0 -1.0
3000.0

-2.0 -2.0
1500.0

-3.0 -3.0
0.0

-1500.0

100.0
-3000.0

3000.0

0.0 1500.0

0.0

-1500.0
-100.0

-3000.0

0.0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05 0.055 0.06 0.065 0.07 0.075 0.08
0.0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.01 0.011 0.012 0.013 0.014 0.015 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.019
t(s)
t(s)
(V) : t(s) tension_de_linea_uab_convertidor
(-) : t(s) moduladora(a)_a moduladora(a)_b

(V) : t(s) tension_de_linea_ubc_convertidor

(V) : t(s) portadora

(V) : t(s) tension_de_linea_uca_convertidor

(V) : t(s) fase_a

Figure 2. Modulation Signals and phase voltage (left) and line voltages (right)
from the Hybrid PWM-SVM Control strategy

Checking the Double Hysteresis-Band Current Control with Simulation Results.

The problem of the previous control is that it is a voltage control for the inverter and an additional current
control is needed in order to control the electromagnetic torque. Therefore, a current strategy is chosen
for this application in order to control the electromagnetic torque in the generator. Saber simulator has
been also used to simulate all the complete system.
Constant Switching Frequency.
A strategy for operating at a constant switching frequency has been also developed. Based on previous
analysis [2], a variable hysteresis bandwidth expression is proposed in order to get the current harmonics
concentrated around a fixed switching frequency, easy to filter. Figure 3 presents some simulation
results, comparing the harmonic distortions when variable or constant switching frequency is used.
Detail of the Line Current Fourier Analysis with constant banwidth. Detail of the Line Current Fourier Analysis before and after the filter with a switching frequency of 2kHz.
Mag(A) : f(Hz) Mag(A) : f(Hz)
15.0 15.0
i(l.la) i(l.la)

10.0 10.0

5.0 5.0

0.0 0.0
Mag(A) : f(Hz) Mag(A) : f(Hz)
15.0 15.0
i(l.la_red) i(l.la_red)

10.0 10.0

5.0 5.0

0.0 0.0

0.0 0.5k 1.0k 1.5k 2.0k 2.5k 3.0k 3.5k 4.0k 4.5k 5.0k 5.5k 6.0k 6.5k 7.0k 7.5k 8.0k 8.5k 9.0k 9.5k 10.0k 0.0 0.5k 1.0k 1.5k 2.0k 2.5k 3.0k 3.5k 4.0k 4.5k 5.0k 5.5k 6.0k 6.5k 7.0k 7.5k 8.0k 8.5k 9.0k 9.5k 10.0k

f(Hz) f(Hz)

Figure 3. Current Harmonic Distortion with fixed and variable hysteresis bandwidth.

C1
i ch arg e = (C 1 + C 2 )
dV C 1 Vdc/2_ref
P.I
ia,b,c iC1 dt control_ref
icharge
VC1 control_ref_a
Hab_band_a

= − (C 1 + C 2 ) C 2
iC2
dV Control Change
1er Order
Filter
i ch arg e Ia_ref
Ia_ref_mod
dt Ia sign
Ia_ref
C2
control_ref_b
Hab_band_a
1er Order
Control Change Filter
Ib_ref_mod
Ib_ref
Ib_ sign
Ib_ref
control_ref_c
Hab_band_a
1er Order
Control Change Filter
0 V Ic_ref_mod
0 V Ic_ref
Ic sign
Ic_ref

Figure 4. DC Middle point control strategy

Neutral Point Voltage Control

One of the inherent problems of the three-level topology is to maintain the DC middle point voltage in a
narrow band around Vdc/2. If this condition is not satisfied, some individual switches have to support a
higher voltage and the current harmonic distortion increases rapidly. It is possible to control the DC
middle point voltage by means of modifying the duration of the charges or discharges in one of the DC
capacitors. With the control strategy presented in this paper, the neutral point voltage can be easily
controlled by means of moving the hysteresis-bands position with respect to the initial situation.

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 DC middle point voltage control signal. DC middle point voltage reference and measured voltage. DC middle point voltage when control is operating and not operating.

40.0
1.0

20.0

(-)
(-)

0.0

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0.0

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-40.0

1560.0

1540.0 1500.0

(-)
1520.0
(-)

1400.0

1500.0

1480.0 1300.0

0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24
t(s)
1460.0
(-) : t(s) activo_control_maq
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24
t(s) (-) : t(s) tens_c1 tens_c1
(-) : t(s) control_ref_maq

(-) : t(s) ref_tens_vc1_maq tens_c1

Figure 5. DC Middle point control strategy simulation results

Experimental Implementation.

A Three-Level Inverter prototype is being developed with an optimal topology to reduce the stray
inductances. This is a critical aspect in the operation of this inverter topology because there is not a
commercial module for a three-level inverter.
The control models have been developed with MATLAB-SIMULINK and after testing and compiling
them, translated into C-language to be understood by a DSP. The C-code will be downloaded to a
DS1103 dSPACE board which will generate the switching IGBT pulses for the Three-Level Inverter
prototype. A 7,5kW, 750rpm permanent magnet synchronous generator will be driven by a three level
inverter controlled by means of both the double hysteresis band current strategy and the hybrid PWM-
SVM strategy.
An electromagnetic torque control will be implemented for the PM synchronous machine and d-q current
reference are proposed in order to control it and the output machine voltage. Figure 6 presents the control
blocks scheme for both strategies. The experimental results will show the differences between them.
With the Hybrid PWM-SVM Control a higher number of controllers is needed because it is necessary to
translate the current references into voltage reference for the inverter control. By other side, with the
Double Hysteresis-Band Control, a current controller is avoid because the machine line currents will be
measured and compared with the reference currents in a programmed variable bandwidth current
hysteresis-band.
The machine position is obtained by means of an encoder and it is used in the control for the d-q
transformation. The neutral voltage control will be also tested, measuring the capacitance voltage and
balancing them by means of a very effective way in both techniques. Experimental results about this will
be presented in a final version of the paper.

Figure 6. Control block scheme for the Hybrid PWM-SVM Voltage Control strategy (left) and
Control block scheme for Double Hysteresis-Band Current Control strategy (right).

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