A novel polygon based 18-pulse AC-DC converter for vector controlled induction motor drives

Abstract

This paper presents a novel configuration of an autotransformer based 18-pulse ac-dc converter for improving the power quality at the point of common coupling (PCC) in variable frequency induction motor drives (VFIMDs). The polygon based connection of autotransformer for achieving 18-pulse rectification is utilized to result in reduction in rating of the magnetics. The design of the autotransformer is carried out for an 18-pulse ac-dc converter feeding a vector controlled induction motor drive (VCIMD). Moreover, the autotransformer design is modified for making it suitable for retrofit applications, where presently a 6-pulse diode bridge rectifier is used. The effect of load variation on VCIMD is also studied and the performance of the proposed 18-pulse ac-dc converter is compared in terms of different power quality indices on both ac as well as dc side with other ac-dc converters. A laboratory prototype of the proposed autotransformer based 18-pulse ac-dc converter feeding a 10-hp induction motor drive is developed to verify the design and simulated results.