Abstract-Cascade multilevel inverters have been developed by the authors for utility applications. A cascade M-level inverter consists of (M-1)/2 H-bridges in which each bridge has its own separate dc source. The new inverter: (1) can generate almost sinusoidal waveform voltage while only switching one time per fundamental cycle, (2) can eliminate transformers of multipulse inverters used in conventional utility interfaces and static var compensators, and (3) makes possible direct parallel o r series connection to medium-and high-voltage power systems without any transformers. In other words, the cascade inverter is much more efficient and suitable for utility applications than traditional multipulse and pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters. The authors have experimentally demonstrated the superiority of the new inverter for reactive power (var) and harmonic compensation. This paper will summarize features, feasibility, and control schemes of the cascade inverter for utility applications including utility interface of renewable energy, voltage regulation, var compensation, and harmonic filtering in power systems.Analytical, simulated, and experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the new inverters.
Abstract-Previous analytical work has shown that it is possible to design surface permanent-magnet (SPM) machines using fractional-slot concentrated windings to achieve wide speed ranges of constant power operation by satisfying the optimal flux-weakening condition. This paper presents a 6-kW 36-slot/30-pole concentrated winding prototype SPM machine that has been designed using a closed-form analytical technique developed specifically for this class of machines. Experimental testing of this machine has been carried out to determine its performance capabilities, including flux-weakening operation. Detailed comparisons between analytical, finite-element analysis (FEA), and experimental results are presented, which confirm the ability of fractional-slot concentrated winding SPM machines to achieve their high-speed operating objectives. Important issues including the machine's back EMF voltage at top speed, eddy-current losses in the magnets, and inverter performance are analyzed and discussed in detail.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.