Space vector modulated three-phase current source converter for DC motor drive

The main disadvantage of applying a standard network driven thyristor rectifiers for a DC motor speed control is the fact that such drives loads the network with reactive power and due to its nonlinear structure network current is nonsinusoidal with a higher harmonics content. Modern development of electronic power components, primarily IGBT and MOSFET switches, allows the replacement of a thyristor three-phase rectifiers with an active converter with a six fully-controlled switches that provides usage of switching frequencies significantly above the network frequency. By suitable control algorithm PWM converter can provide sinusoidal input current waveform, which significantly contributes to the reduction of higher harmonics content in the network The paper presents the results obtained by simulation and experiment for the case of application of an active PWM converter driven DC motor for speed control. Results analysis clearly shows the benefits of the active PWM converter application.