Report 1 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is the way of controlling the output voltage without any disturbance for the use of ac motor control. The output voltage is from the fixed voltage supply. The advantage of having a PWM is that its uncontrolled rectifier can give a siries of constant dc voltage. This PWM control method can be used in a constant torque area for example in machinery equipments, textile industry, printing and paper manufacturing.

3-Phase Synchronous PWM Controller IC Provides an Integrated Solution for Intel VRM 9.0 Design Guidelines

Table 1 - Summary of the VRM 9.0 output requirements (Source: Intel VRM9.0 DC-DC converter design guidelines.

By referring to waveform above, the carrier triangle waveform is the result of a high frequency, which is normally between 1.5 2.5kHz. With a low harmonic and small torque pulse enable a wide range of speed control from 0 rpm to machines full torque. This triangle waveform is then being compared with the sinousoidal waveform. And each crossover point will determine the transistors turn OFF.

PWM is ac motor control method through frequencies alteration. If a low output frequency is desired, then a low output voltage is needed. By chopping the voltage, the mark-space ratio is altered in order to achieve the desired voltage value.

And if a high frequency is desired thus a high output voltage is needed. The chopper is allowed to flow in current for a much longer time. This will then gives out a higher fundamental output component compared during the low frequency output.

And if that frequency is let to be increased, the ON period will be much longer causing the separated waveform united in becoming one as shown in the figure above. Any increment after that will not affect the output voltage.

And if the given frequency is out of range, then an output shown above will be produced. The shape of the waveform will not be change and is named quasi-square.