Performance investigation of a single-phase, unidirectional AC/DC buck-converter fed DC motor drive

This paper deals with the performance investigation of a single-phase, unidirectional AC/DC Buck converter fed DC motor drive. A simulation model of a single-phase, unidirectional AC/DC Buck converter fed DC motor drive has been developed, and the results have been compared with those obtained in case of a conventional phase-controlled converter fed drive. The results show an inherent power quality improvement in terms of reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of source current in a Buck-converter fed DC motor drive over a phase-controlled converter fed drive, without compromising on the range of speed control. Such an Improved Power Quality Drive also exhibits Power Factor Correction (PFC) properties to a large extent. The simulation results have been further aided and confirmed by experimental results obtained on a hardware prototype of an AC/DC buckconverter fed DC motor drive.