Open-end winding AC drives with enhanced reactive power support to the grid while eliminating switching common-mode voltage

In this paper, a new space vector PWM strategy for a matrix converter based open-end winding drive is presented. This modulation strategy enhances the capability of drive system to supply reactive power to the grid while eliminating switching common-mode voltage at the machine terminals. The enhanced reactive power support is possible due to the following new features of the proposed PWM strategy: 1) For a desired grid-side power factor, the maximum available voltage at the machine terminals is higher than the maximum available voltage in conventional strategy, 2) For the same voltage at the machine terminals, lower (than conventional strategy) grid-side power factor is possible. Analytical expressions which show the relation between grid-side power factor and available voltage at the machine terminals are derived. Gain in voltage is compared with the previous method. Simulation results and experimental results of a hardware prototype are presented.