Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

Work taken from EE5A2: Modelling, Analysis and Simulation

Techniques for Power Electronics Systems. University of
Birmingham, UK.
Fourier Analysis
1. Physical Considerations
It is important to remember that Fourier analysis is, for engineers at least, only a method of
representing repetitive, cyclical waveforms. There are two approaches to most problems –
time domain or frequency domain. The Fourier component of a waveform may be used for
frequency domain analysis. By implication, this approach is only valid for linear systems, in
which superposition applies.
Fourier analysis/frequency domain is usually restricted to steady state conditions; time
domain analysis is needed for transient fault, unbalanced or abnormal conditions.
2. Example
--
3. Mathematics of Fourier Analysis
3.1 Trigonometric Form of Series
1
𝑓(𝜃) = 𝑎0 + 𝑎1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 + 𝑎3 …
2
+ 𝑏1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑏2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 + 𝑏3 …
ie
∞
1
𝑓(𝜃) = 𝑎0 ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑛 𝜃 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛 𝜃
2
𝑛=1

where
1 𝐶+2𝜋
𝑎𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫𝐶 𝑓(𝜃) cos 𝑛 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

(applies for a0 with n=0)

1 𝑐+2𝜋
and 𝑏𝑛 = ∫𝑐 𝑓(𝜃) sin 𝑛 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜋

Magnitude of nth harmonic:

𝐶𝑛 = √𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛2

Phase of nth harmonic:

𝑏
𝜃𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑎𝑛 )
𝑛

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 1

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

3.1 Exponential (or complex) Form of Series

∞

𝑓(𝜃) = ∑ 𝐴𝑛 𝑒 𝑗𝑛𝜃
𝑛=−∞

An is complex conjugate of An

1 2𝜋
𝐴𝑛 = ∫ 𝑓(𝜃)𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 0

An is a complex number
Magnitude o nth harmonic:
2|𝐴𝑛 |𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 ≠ 0, |𝐴𝑛 |𝑓𝑜𝑟 = 0
Phase of nth harmonic
Trigonometric and Exponential forms of Fourier series are equivalent mathematically, the
equivalence being shown in attached “Section 13”, from Electronic Networks by H Skilling.
4. Application of Exponential Form of Fourier Series to basic waveforms
A simple pulse of uniform amplitude V, width 2δ, and positioned at angle α is shown in
Figure 4.1
Apply equation 7 to it to calculate An

1 2𝜋
𝐴𝑛 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑉)𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 0

1 𝛼+𝛿 −𝑗𝑛𝜃
= ∫ 𝑉𝑒 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 𝛼−𝛿
1 𝑉
= ( ) {𝑒 −𝑗𝑛(𝛼+𝛿) − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛(𝛼−𝛿) }
2𝜋 −𝑗𝑛
1 𝑉
= ( ) {𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝛿 − 𝑒 +𝑗𝑛𝛿 }𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝛼
2𝜋 −𝑗𝑛

𝑒 −𝑗𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑒 +𝑗𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

∴ 𝑒 −𝑗𝜃 − 𝑒 +𝑗𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

= −2𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
1 𝑉
∴ 𝐴𝑛 = ( ) {−2𝑗 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿}𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝛼
2𝜋 −𝑗𝑛
𝑉1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝛼
𝜋𝑛

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 2

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

𝛿 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿 −𝑗𝑛𝛼
=𝑉 𝑒
𝜋 𝑛𝛿
∴ 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐾𝑛 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝛼
Where
𝛿 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿
𝐾𝑛 = 𝑉
𝜋 𝑛𝛿
Kn is the amplitude term and is a real number. e-jnα, has a magnitude of 1, is the phase
term and, in effect contains the cosine and sine series in a single term.
The power of the exponential form is that the magnitude term does not change with the
position of the pulse in a cycle.
If the pulse is moved to a position(α+β), the values of An becomes:
𝛿 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿 −𝑗𝑛𝛼 −𝑗𝑛𝛽
𝐴𝑛 = 𝑉 𝑒 𝑒
𝜋 𝑛𝛿
𝛿 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝛿 −𝑗𝑛(𝛼+𝛽)
=𝑉 𝑒
𝜋 𝑛𝛿
5. Examples
5.1 Square Wave
For a square wave of magnitude ±V:
𝜋/2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜋/2 −𝑗𝑛𝜋 𝑗𝑛3𝜋
𝐴𝑛 = 𝑉 {𝑒 2 − 𝑒 − 2 }
𝜋 𝑛𝜋/2
𝑉 sin 𝑛𝜋 𝑗𝑛𝜋 𝑗𝑛𝜋
= ( ) {𝑒 2 − 𝑒 − 2 } 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜋
𝑛𝜋 2
𝑉 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋
= (𝑠𝑖𝑛 ) 2𝑗 sin 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜋
𝑛𝜋 2 2
𝑉𝑠 −𝑗𝑛𝜋
2 𝑗𝑒 |𝑛 𝑜𝑑𝑑
𝜋𝑛

Corel

4𝑉
2|𝐴𝑛 | = |
𝜋𝑛 𝑛 𝑜𝑑𝑑
Harmonic content of a square wave:
- Odd harmonics only.

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 3

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

- Amplitude inversely proportional to harmonic order.

- Peak amplitude is (4/π) times the magnitude of the square wave.
This is worth remembering.
5.2 Quasi Square Waves
Two inverter legs switched with the phase between them controlled, or the quasi square
waveform from an inverter, produce a waveform of the type shown in Fig. 5.1. It is seen to
be obtained by subtracting two square waves of half the amplitude and the appropriate
phase angle γ.
Harmonic analysis of this waveform can use the results of example 5.1. The nth harmonic in
VAB can be calculated directly by subtracting the nth harmonic in VAG and VBG.
Substituting V in equations 14 by (V/2)

𝑉 −𝑗𝑛𝜋
𝐴𝑛𝐴𝐺 = 𝑗𝑒 |
𝜋𝑛 𝑛 𝑜𝑑𝑑

𝑉 −𝑗𝑛𝜋 −𝑗𝑛(𝜋−𝛾)
𝐴𝑛𝐵𝐺 = 𝑗𝑒 𝑒 |
𝜋𝑛 𝑛 𝑜𝑑𝑑

𝑉 −𝑗𝑛𝜋
∴ 𝐴𝑛𝐴𝐵 = 𝑗 {𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛(2𝜋−𝛾) }
𝜋𝑛
𝑉 −𝑗(3𝜋−𝛾)/2 +𝑗𝑛(𝜋−𝛾)/2
=𝑗 𝑒 {𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛(𝜋−𝛾)/2 }
𝜋𝑛

𝑉
=𝑗 2𝑗 (sin 𝑛(𝜋 − 𝛾)/2) 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛(3𝜋−𝛾)/2
𝜋𝑛
By trigonometric expansion
𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝛾 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝛾
sin 𝑛(𝜋 − 𝛾)/2 = sin cos − cos sin
2 2 2 2
For odd harmonics

𝑛𝜋
cos =0
2
𝑛𝜋
and sin 2
= ±1

∴ For magnitudes only

4𝑉 𝑛𝛾
2|𝐴𝑛𝐴𝐵 | = cos |
𝜋𝑛 2 𝑛 𝑜𝑑𝑑

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 4

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

Observations
𝑛𝛾
• Harmonic amplitude is same as for a square wave, but modified by cos 2
.
• Magnitude of harmonics modulate with 𝛾 as shown in Fig. 5.1
• When 𝛾 = 𝜋/3, the case for a quasi-square voltage waveform from a three-phase
𝑛𝛾
inverter, the triplen harmonics are zero because of cos 2 .

5.3 Three Phase inverter waveforms

Let the amplitude of the nth harmonic of an inverter phase voltage, VRG, be denoted by
𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 . Then for the yellow leg, with the same switching pattern but delayed by 2𝜋/3, the
harmonic amplitude, 𝐴𝑛𝑌𝐺 , is given by

𝐴𝑛𝑌𝐺 = 𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 (𝑒 −𝑗𝑛2𝜋/3 )

∴ 𝐴𝑛𝑅𝑌 = 𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 (1 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛2𝜋/3 )

= 𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 {𝑒 𝑗𝑛𝜋/3 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜋/3 }𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜋/3

𝑛𝜋 −𝑗𝑛𝜋/3
∴ |𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 | = 2|𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 |2𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑗𝑒
3
𝑛𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛 3
= 0 for all triplens

√3
=± 2
for other values of n

Ratio of ‘phase’ to ‘line’ voltage harmonics is

2𝐴𝑛𝑅𝑌 2𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺
| |=| | 2 sin 𝑛𝜋/3
2𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 2𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺

= ±√3 for all values of n

other than triplens
sin 𝑛𝜋/3 is shown in Fig. 5.3.
Note that this result is general; no assumptions have been made about the shape of the
waveform and𝐴𝑛𝑅𝐺 etc.

5.4 RMS Values

2𝜋
1
𝑖𝑅𝑀𝑆 = √ ∫ (𝑖)2 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
0

if i = 𝐼1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 + ⋯
2𝜋
1
∫ (𝐼1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃) (𝐼1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 + ⋯ )𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
0

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 5

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

2𝜋
1
∫ {𝐼12 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝐼22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝜃 + ⋯ + (𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 + 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠}𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
0
2𝜋
1
∫ {𝐼12 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝐼22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝜃 + ⋯ }𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
0
2𝜋

because ∫ cos 𝑛𝜃 cos 𝑚𝜃 = 0

0
2𝜋
1 1 1
∫ {𝐼12 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃) + 𝐼22 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠4𝜃) + ⋯ } 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 2 2
0

1 21 1 21
= 𝐼1 𝜋 + 𝐼 2𝜋 + ⋯
2𝜋 2 2𝜋 2 2
𝐼12 𝐼22
= + +⋯
2 2

1
∴ 𝑖𝑅𝑀𝑆 = √ (𝐼12 + 𝐼2+⋯
2
)
2

but 𝐼1 , 𝐼2 are peak values

∴ 𝑖𝑅𝑀𝑆 = √𝐼12𝑅𝑀𝑆 + 𝐼22𝑅𝑀𝑆 + ⋯

Therefore the RMS value of a non-sinusoidal waveform can be calculated from the square
root of the sum of the squares of the rms values of the individual harmonic components.
[Although this is not always the simplest way.]

• Calculate the RMS value of the output waveform of chopper, for duty ratio D.
• Calculate the RMS value of a quasi-square wave voltage from a inverter.

5.5 Sinusoidal PWM

There are many forms of pulse-width modulation, and the analytical description of their
spectra usually involves a Bessel function solution. Alternatively the spectrum can be
computed.
If the harmonic coefficients of the waveform due to the kth pulse as shown in Fig 5.5, is
denoted by 𝐴𝑛𝑘 . Then the complete spectrum is computed by summing for all pulses in a
cycle.
For the characteristic pulse in Fig. 1.4.

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 6

 Fourier Analysis for Power Switched Conversion

𝛼𝑘 +2𝛿0
1
𝐴𝑛𝑘 = ∫ 𝑉(𝜃) 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
𝛼𝑘 −2𝛿0

𝛼𝑘 −𝛿1𝑘 𝛼𝑘 +𝛿2𝑘 𝛼𝑘 +2𝛿0

1 𝑉𝑠 −𝑗𝑛𝜃 𝑉𝑠 −𝑗𝑛𝜃 𝑉𝑠 −𝑗𝑛𝜃
= { ∫ 𝑒 𝑑𝜃 + ∫ 𝑒 𝑑𝜃 − ∫ 𝑒 𝑑𝜃}
2𝜋 2 2 2
𝛼𝑘 −2𝛿0 𝛼𝑘 −2𝛿1𝑘 𝛼𝑘 +2𝛿2𝑘

𝑉𝑠 1 −2
𝐴𝑛𝑘 = ( ) ( ) ( ) {𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃𝛿2𝑘 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃𝛿1𝑘 + 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑛𝛿0 }𝑒 −𝑗𝑛𝜃𝛼𝑘
2 2𝜋 𝑗𝑛
It isn’t very informative, but is a suitable form for computing.

August 2019
Original work by Profr. Peter Evans, Birmingham, UK, October 2001

Dr. Ismael Araujo-Vargas 7