Commutation Torque Ripple Reduction in BLDC Motor Using

Modified SEPIC Converter and Three-level NPC Inverter

Abstract

This paper presents a new power converter topology to suppress the torque ripple due to
the phase current commutation of a brushless DC motor (BLDCM) drive system. A combination
of a 3-level diode clamped multilevel inverter (3-level DCMLI), a modified single-ended
primary-inductor converter (SEPIC), and a dc-bus voltage selector circuit are employed in the
proposed torque ripple suppression circuit..

Existing method

The existing method describes as the causes of torque ripple in BLDCM during
commutation interval have been investigated for both 120° and 180° electrical conduction modes
of the inverter and a composite switching mode has been proposed for effective torque ripple
suppression at all speeds. In variable input voltage method has been proposed for the effective
torque ripple suppression during the freewheeling period of BLDCM. In this method, the period
of the freewheeling region and optimized voltage have been estimated using the Laplace
transformation. A novel current control scheme using deadbeat current controller has been
reported for the torque ripple reduction of BLDCM using a single dc-bus current sensor.

Proposed method

The proposed method proposes a novel converter topology to reduce the torque ripple of
the BLDCM drive system. The proposed converter is composed a modified SEPIC converter and
a MOSFET-based 3-level DCMLI. The modified SEPIC converter operates with high static gain
and less switching voltage stress than classical DC-DC converters. Hence, the modified SEPIC
converter is used in this proposed torque ripple suppression circuit and the duty cycle is adjusted
to obtain the desired dc-bus voltage based on the spinning speed of the BLDCM. The 3-level
DCMLI is used for further reduction of the current ripple and as well as the resultant torque
ripple. The MOSFET-based voltage selector circuit is used to apply regulated dc-bus voltage for
efficient commutation torque ripple suppression.
Block diagram

Proposed converter topology with a dc-bus voltage selector circuit for BLDCM

Drawbacks of existing method

 Commutation torque pulsation of BLDCM generates abnormal vibration

 It creates unwanted speed fluctuations.
 It also generates sound.

Advantages of proposed method

 The 3-level DCMLI topology provides a significant reduction in ripple current without
the need for very high switching frequency than 2-level inverter.
 It operates with a lower number of DC sources and power semiconductor devices.
 The modified SEPIC converter operates with high static gain and less switching voltage
stress.

Applications

 The BLDCM is widely used in more electric aircraft (MEA) applications in a power
range of 100kW to 150kW.
 In most industrial low- and medium-power applications.
 The multilevel-inverter driven ac machines are used in many industrial high power
applications.