A Soft-Switching Current-Source-Inverter-Fed Motor Drive with Reduced Common-Mode Voltage

This article proposes a common-mode voltage (CMV) attenuation method for the three-phase current source inverter (CSI)-fed permanent-magnet synchronous machine drive. The key of this method is to introduce an auxiliary circuit branch connected in parallel with the dc link. Based on the dedicated switching strategy, the zero-voltage-switching conditions are provided for the main switches in the CSI. In particular, the zero current vector is newly constructed without utilizing shoot-through operation in the CSI. Thus, the CMV in the traditional CSI drives is attenuated significantly. Compared with the existing research on CMV suppression, the proposed method will not compromise the modulation index range or increase output current harmonics. Meanwhile, the overshoot voltage can be clamped by the auxiliary power circuit in the dc link under open-circuit fault in the power switches. The system configuration, operating principle, analysis of operation modes, as well as the control scheme are described in detail. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed method.