Improved Asymmetric Space Vector Modulation for Voltage Source Converters with Low Carrier Ratio

This paper presents an improved asymmetric space vector modulation (ASVM) for two-level voltage source converters (VSCs) when the switching frequency is as low as nine times of line frequency. By adding two pulses in each line cycle when the fundamental voltage crosses zero, the total harmonic distortion (THD) of output current can be reduced significantly. The penalty of additional switching loss is very limited for high power factor operation. The applications of the improved ASVM in a single VSC or in two interleaved VSCs are shown, respectively. With the optimization of the duration and position of the additional pulses, the ac current THD can be reduced to as low as 50% for single VSC and even lower to less than 25% for interleaved VSCs systems. Such THD reduction has close relationship with space vectors' position, modulation index, and interleaving angle. Improved ASVM can also reduce the amplitude of circulating current in the interleaved VSCs, leading to smaller interphase inductors. Finally, the weights of total inductors needed to meet the same THD requirement are compared to demonstrate the benefits of improved ASVM when different pulsewidth modulation schemes are used. The analysis results are verified by experiments on a demo system.