A simplified functional model for 3-phase voltage source inverter using switching function concept

In this paper, a functional model for voltage-source inverter (VSI) using switching function concept is studied and the actual implementation of the model is proposed with the help of MATLAB Simulink. The switching function concept is a powerful tool in understanding and optimizing the performance of the static power converters/inverters. With the developed functional model, the simplification of the static power circuits can be achieved so that the convergence and long run-time problems, which are common in PSPICE and SABER, can be solved. Also, obtaining the state equations for describing the power circuits in MATLAB is not required any more. Therefore, it is expected that the proposed model is an easy-to-design tool for design and evaluation of the performance of the control strategy as well as for describing the general characteristics of VSI in a simple and effective way. Also, in the functional model, the design parameters, such as voltage and current ratings of the power semiconductor switches and load current, can be easily calculated and it can be readily extended to different power conversion topologies such as current-source inverter and PWM AC/DC rectifier. The general switching function concept is reviewed in brief and the proposed functional model for VSI and the implementation using MATLAB Simulink are explained in detail. Also, several informative simulation results verify the validity of the proposed model.