The University of British Columbia Electrical and Computer Engineering

ELEC 451: POWER ELECTRONICS

LAB 3: HALF BRIDGE INVERTER

OBJECTIVES
1. Familiarize with an inverter experimental setup
2. Learn sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM)
3. Perform high and low frequency measurements

Required Components:
• PSIM simulation software
• Power inverter board
• Function Generator

DUE DATE: one week from the lab session

Figure 1: Schematic circuit of the half-bridge inverter

ACTIVITY 1 - SIMULATIONS

1) Build a half bridge inverter as shown in Figure 1 using PSIM and the following specifications:
• Input voltage 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 24𝑉𝑉
• Inductance 𝐿𝐿 = 1𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
• Capacitance 𝐶𝐶𝑜𝑜 = 50𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇
• Capacitance 𝐶𝐶𝑖𝑖 = 1000𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇
• Load resistor 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 = 500Ω

2) To generate the driving signals, a SPWM modulator must be built (use Figure 3 as a reference).
A triangular signal source can be used as the carrier signal (𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 ), whereas a sinusoidal signal (60
Hz) can be implemented as the control signal (𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 ). These two signals must be compared (by
using a comparator) to generate the corresponding driving signals for the switches. As show in
Figure 3, the amplitude of the carrier and control signals will depend on the desired modulation
index (𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 ):
𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 =
𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

ELEC 451: POWER ELECTRONICS Lab 3

 The University of British Columbia Electrical and Computer Engineering

3) Adjust the carrier and control signals to obtain a modulation index of 50%, modulation
frequency 60 Hz and switching frequency of 50 kHz.

4) Simulate the circuit under this condition. Observe and analyze the different signals, in particular
the switch voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 , output voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 , and inductor current 𝑖𝑖𝐿𝐿 .

5) Evaluate the output voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (RMS value), inductor current 𝑖𝑖𝐿𝐿 (RMS value), output voltage
ripple ∆𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 (peak to peak) and output voltage total harmonic distortion (THD).
Note: the ripple should be measured using the cursors at the point in which the sine wave is
crossing zero, i.e., maximum ripple.

2 2
�𝑣𝑣2(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟) + 𝑣𝑣3(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟) +⋯
𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑣𝑣 = 100 %
𝑣𝑣1(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟)
Repeat the same for:
• 50% modulation index and different switching (carrier) frequencies (50kHz, and 90kHz)
• 10 kHz carrier frequency and different modulation indices (20%, 50%, and 90%)
Observe the changes in the waveforms.

6) Summarize your analysis, waveforms, measurements and observations in the lab report.

ACTIVITY 2 – EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

Figure 2: Experimental board schematic (control and signal generation)

Part A: PWM modulation generation

Two integrated circuits are used for the practical implementation of the system. The SPWM
modulation is performed using a LM3524. An IR2103 is employed to insert dead time between
the SPWM channels and drive the switches. Please analyze the block diagrams in the ICs’
datasheets and get familiar with the way they work.

1) Power the logic part of the board provided with 18 - 24V, and connect the oscilloscope probe
to the saw-tooth carrier of the SPWM modulator (TP104 – LM3524 pin 7: CT). The frequency of
this signal, the same as the carrier frequency, controls the PWM signal that is going to drive Q1
and Q2. This frequency is adjusted by the variable resistor (connected to pin 6: RT) to 10kHz.

ELEC 451: POWER ELECTRONICS Lab 3

 The University of British Columbia Electrical and Computer Engineering

2) Configure the function generator to output a low frequency (around 1Hz) sinusoidal waveform,
with amplitude and offset of around 1V and connect it to the board. Connect two more
oscilloscope probes to test-points TP100 and TP200 to visualize the sine modulating signal and
pulse width modulation output (use the differential probe for the SPWM output). The following
figure shows the waveforms for the carrier, control and SPWM voltages.

Figure 3: Conceptual representation of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generation

3) Identify the minimum and maximum values of the SPWM carrier (TP104). Adjust the function
generator offset and amplitude to obtain a SPWM duty cycle centered at 0.5, which reaches values
of 0.75 and 0.25 for the sine-wave peaks.

4) Take oscilloscope captures, make observations, analyze the behavior of the circuit, and include
them in the final report.

Part B: Experimental Inverter Setup

1) Implement the same circuit as in activity 1 using the power inverter board.
2) Set up the carrier and control frequency, and modulation index of the PWM signal for the
following parameters:
• Saw-tooth carrier frequency: 10𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
• Sine-wave modulation signal frequency: 60Hz
• Duty cycle deviation: 25% (modulation index of 50%, the limits should be 25-75%)

3) Using the oscilloscope, observe the experimental captures of the switch voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (Ch.1),
output voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (Ch.2), and inductor current 𝑖𝑖𝐿𝐿 (Ch.3). Use two differential probes for measuring
the voltages. Measure output voltage 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (RMS value), inductor current 𝑖𝑖𝐿𝐿 (RMS value), output
voltage ripple ∆𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 (peak to peak), and output voltage total harmonic distortion (THD).
Note: the ripple should be measured using the cursors at the point in which the sine wave is
crossing zero.

2 2
�𝑣𝑣2(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟) + 𝑣𝑣3(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟) +⋯
𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑣𝑣 = 100 %
𝑣𝑣1(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟)

ELEC 451: POWER ELECTRONICS Lab 3

 The University of British Columbia Electrical and Computer Engineering

Repeat the same for:

• 50% modulation index and different switching (carrier) frequencies (10kHz and 50kHz)
• 10 kHz switching frequency and different modulation indices (20% and 90%)

Note: in order to change the modulation index (𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 ), it is not necessary to go back to part A. Adjust
𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 by using the modulation index equation and measuring the output voltage

𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜,𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 = 100%
𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 /2

4) Write a report showing the mentioned waveforms and calculations. Make relevant comments
explaining the difference between simulations and the actual implementation of the circuit.

Important: Before turning on the power supply, ask your TA to validate the circuit.

ELEC 451: POWER ELECTRONICS Lab 3