Abstract
This paper aims at minimizing capacitor-voltage fluctuations inherent in a modular multilevel cascade inverter based on double-star chopper cell (DSCC) or a modular multilevel DSCC inverter. The inverter can drive an induction motor loaded with a quadratic-torque load. Both theoretical analysis and numerical calculation reveal that the voltage fluctuations can be minimized when the ratio of a magnetizing-current component with respect to a torque-current component in the motor current is set to unity, regardless of the motor mechanical speed. A three-phase DSCC inverter is designed and constructed to drive a 380-V, 15-kW, 50-Hz, four-pole, induction motor loaded with a quadratic torque that is proportional to a square of the motor mechanical speed. Experimental results confirm the validity of the theoretical and numerical calculations.
