EEE 5451-Laboratory 4

AC Converters and FFT Analysis

4.1 Inverters

Inverters transfer power from DC circuits to AC circuits. They primarily operate with
switchable valves. Self-commutated static converters are frequently used in the speed
control of electrical machines or for automatic frequency control in the case of direct
network feeding, e.g. to match the variable generator frequency of a wind power
generator to the fixed mains frequency. Inverters are connected to DC current or DC
voltage links. The intermediate links are generally supplied by uncontrolled diode
bridges.

4.1.1 Measurements on fundamental frequency control

In this exercise you will be recording the characteristics of the output voltage and
output current with a resistive-inductive load. In the process you will learn:

how the output signals respond during fundamental frequency control

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below, complete the appropriate
wiring of the cards, and then follow the instructions of the experiment.

Apply a resistive-inductive load to the AC power controller.

(i) What are the disadvantages of fundamental frequency control?

(a) Requires powerful processor

(b) Square-wave shaped output voltage with high proportion of higher harmonics

(c) Greater triggering complexity

(d) Fixed output voltage depending on the voltage at the link circuit
(ii) What are the advantages of fundamental frequency control?

(a) Low losses occurring in the power semiconductors because of reduced switching

(b) Square-wave output voltage with a high proportion of harmonics

(c) Less complexity for triggering

(d) Fixed output voltage depending on the link circuit

(iii) What determines the amplitude of the output voltage?

(a) The amplitude of the output voltage depends on the power semiconductors

(b) The amplitude of the output voltage is determined by the output frequency

(c) The amplitude of the output voltage is determined by the link voltage

4.1.2 Measurements of amplitude modulation

In this exercise you will be recording the characteristics of the output voltage and
output current using a resistive-inductive load. In the process you will learn:

how the output signals behave during amplitude modulation

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below, complete the appropriate
wiring of the cards, and then follow the instructions of the experiment.

Apply a resistive-inductive load to the AC power controller.

What advantage does amplitude modulation have over fundamental frequency

control?

Control of the power semiconductors is easier than in the case of fundamental

(a)
frequency control

(b) The amplitude of the output voltage can be changed using the power semiconductors

(c) The signal waveform is improved. Fewer harmonics are generated

 4.1.3 Measurements of signal modulation

In this exercise you will be recording the characteristics of the output voltage and
output current for a resistive-inductive load. In the process you will learn:

how the output signals behave during signal modulation

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below, complete the appropriate
wiring of the cards, and then follow the instructions of the experiment.

Connect a resistive-inductive load to the AC power controller.

(i) Interpret the output signals:

(a) The output voltage is PWM modulated

(b) The output current is PWM modulated
(c) The output current characteristic is sinusoidal
(d) The current characteristic is an exponential function

(ii) What are the advantages of this form of modulation over fundamental
frequency control?

(a) The triggering is simpler than in fundamental frequency control

(b) Harmonics are avoided due to the sinusoidal modulation

(c) The power losses incurred at the power semiconductors are lower

(d) The voltage amplitude can be varied

(e) The current characteristic is sinusoidal

(iii) What is the influence of the clock frequency on the shape of the output
signals?

(a) The higher the clock frequency, the lower the losses in the power semiconductors

(b) The higher the clock frequency, the more sinusoidal the current characteristic

(c) The lower the clock frequency the more sinusoidal the current characteristic

Test

On this page we will test the knowledge you have acquired. Answer all of the
questions.

(i) In the case of fundamental frequency control which of the following

variables is fixed?

(a) Output voltage

(b) Output frequency

(ii) What shape is the output signal in the case of fundamental frequency
control?

(a) A square-wave signal with the amplitude Ud/2

(b) A sine-wave signal with the amplitude Ud/2
(c) A square-wave signal with the amplitude Ud
(d) A square-wave signal with the amplitude Ud/3

(iii) What is meant by the term switching frequency?

(a) The frequency of the fundamental wave of the output voltage

(b) The frequency at which the power semiconductors conduct switching operations
 Twice the frequency at which the power semiconductors conduct switching
(c)
operations

(iv) What is meant by the switching or clock rate?

(a) Fundamental frequency * clock frequency

(b) Fundamental frequency / clock frequency
(c) Clock frequency + fundamental frequency
(d) Clock frequency / fundamental frequency

(v) We refer to synchronous clock pulsing when

(a) The clock frequency is half the fundamental frequency

The clock frequency is an integer multiple of the
(b)
fundamental frequency
The clock frequency and fundamental frequency have no
(c)
fixed relationship to each other

(vi) What determines the modulation depth?

(a) The power of the power semiconductors

(b) The phase control of the inverter
(c) The maximum frequency of the inverter
(d) The minimum clock frequency of the inverter

4.2 Three-phase power inverter/three-phase power controller

Inverters transfer power from DC circuits to AC circuits. They primarily operate by

means of semiconductor valves that can be switched on and off. Self-commutated
static converters are frequently used in the speed control of electrical machines or for
automatic frequency control in the case of direct network feeding, e.g. to match the
variable generator frequency of a wind power generator to the fixed mains frequency.
Inverters are connected to DC current or DC voltage links. The intermediate links are
generally supplied by uncontrolled diode bridges.

4.2.1 Measurements on block commutation

In this exercise we will be measuring the characteristics of the output voltages for
block commutation. In the process you will become familiar with the relationship of
the output voltage UL1to the star point and the voltages UL1 to UL2.

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below, complete the appropriate
wiring of the cards, then follow the instructions of the experiment.

Connect a resistive-inductive load to the three-phase controller.

(i) Compare the measured voltages with the ideal signals:

The signal shape of the measured signal differs from the

(a)
theoretical shape
The measured signals do not coincide in any way with the
(b)
theory
(c) The measured signals are in agreement with the theory

Observe the response of the load's LEDs. The response is best observed at low
frequencies (1 Hz). Take the measured signals into consideration - what are your
conclusions.
(ii) Which of the following statements are true?

(a) The LED brightness reflects the amount of current

(b) The LEDs assume a different state for each current direction

(c) The LEDs assume two different states for each current direction (colour)

(d) The LEDs light up with half and maximum brightness

(c) The LEDs light up with 1/3 and 2/3 of the maximum brightness
 4.2.2 Measurements on sinusoidal modulation

In this exercise we will be comparing the output current and output voltage at various
clock frequencies. In the process you will become familiar with the influence of a
resistive-inductive load.

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below and complete the
experimental card wiring.

Connect the resistive-inductive load to the three-phase controller.

(i) Describe the differences occurring at various clock frequencies

(a) The change in current is independent of the clock frequency

As the clock frequency increases the current is smoothed by the

(b)
resistive-inductive load and appears to take on the form of a sine wave

At higher clock frequency the power semiconductors switch at a faster rate

(c)
during a period of the fundamental oscillation

(d) The output voltage takes on a sinusoidal shape at a higher clock frequency

(ii) The pulse control factor using sinusoidal modulation amounts to

A = .
(iii) Compare the calculated value to the theoretical value

(a) The values are in relative agreement provided the inaccuracies are taken into account.

(b) The values are not in agreement

4.2.3 Measurements on trapezoidal modulation

In this exercise we will be investigating the characteristics of the output voltage.

In the process you will become familiar with the relationships between the line
voltage and the phase voltage.

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below and complete the wiring of
the cards.

Connect a resistive-inductive load to the three-phase controller.

Which statements concerning the phase and line voltage are true? Remember
that these statements refer to the fundamental wave.

The phase voltage (measured in the middle of the link circuit) is not
(a) sinusoidal. Here we can discern the super-positioning of the third
harmonic
(b) The line voltages are not sinusoidal
(c) The line voltages are sinusoidal
(d) The connected load is only affected by the line voltage. In spite of the
 increased output voltage no more distortion is produced
The phase voltage (measured in the middle of the link circuit)
(e)
characteristic is sinusoidal

Calculate the pulse control factor A according to the following equation

Please bear in mind that the measured phase voltages are not sinusoidal.
Consequently no inferences can be drawn as to the peak value.

The peak value has to be determined by calculating back based on the line
voltage quantities.

The pulse control factor for trapezoidal modulation amounts to

A =

Compare the computed value with the ideal or theoretical value

(a) With the inaccuracies taken into account these values are in relative agreement.

(b) These values diverge from each other

4.2.4 Analysis of signals

In this exercise you will be examining the characteristics of the output voltage. In the
process you will learn about:

the relationships between the line voltage and the phase voltage
how to calculate the pulse control factor

Set up the circuit as specified in the circuit diagram below and complete the wiring of
the experiment cards.
The pulse control factor for sinusoidal space vector modulation is
A = .

Compare the calculated value with the theoretical value

(a) The values are in relatively good agreement considering the inaccuracies.
(b) The values are not in agreement

Test
On this page we will be testing the knowledge you have acquired. Finish
answering all the questions below.
In block commutation the theoretical pulse control factor amounts to which of
the following?

(a) 1
(b) 1.1
1
(c) 0.91
(d) 0.78

The signal levels in block commutation amount to which of the following?

(a) 1/3Ud
( and Ud
(b) 2/3Ud
( and Ud
(c) 1/3Ud
( and 2/3Ud
(d) 1/2Ud and Ud

The theoretical pulse control factor in sinusoidal modulation amounts to which

of the following?

(a) 1(
 (b) 1.1
(
(c) 0.91
(
(d) 0.78
(

Which of the following describes the influence of an increase in clock frequency

when using a resistive-inductive load?

(a) (The current increases for the same load

(b) (The current drops for the same load

(c) (The current undergoes more smoothing

(d) (The power losses in the power semiconductors are more substantial

(e) (The power losses in the power semiconductors are lower

The theoretical pulse control factor in trapezoidal modulation amounts to which

of the following?

(a) 1(
(b) 1.1
(
(c) 0.91
(
(d) 0.78
(

The trapezoidal signal is comprised of which components?

(a) The
( fundamental + 2 harmonics
(b) The
( fundamental + 3 harmonics
(c) The
( fundamental + 4 harmonics
(d) The
( fundamental + 5 harmonics

If during space vector modulation only the base vectors are switched on
cyclically, the same output signals are produced as in which of the following?

(a)( Block commutation

(b)( Sinusoidal modulation
(c)Trapezoidal modulation

The theoretical pulse control factor in space vector modulation amounts to which
of the following?

(a)(1
 (b)( 1.1
(c)0.91
(d)( 0.78

How many switching states can be generated with a 6 fold MOSFET power
component (with 3 branches)?

(a) 3( switching states

(b) 4( switching states
(c) 6( switching states
(d) 8( switching states

In sinusoidal space vector modulation the vector runs along which of the
following?

(a) A
( hexagonal course
(b) An
( elliptical course
(c) A
( circular course
(d) A
( rectangular course

4.3 FFT analysis

Fourier analysis makes it possible to view the output spectrum in the

frequency domain. This makes it very easy to evaluate the output signals.

The result of an FFT analysis is a frequency spectrum. Oscillations are

represented in terms of their peak value.

4.3.1 Observation of output current

In this exercise you will investigate the spectrum of the output current for various
clocking frequencies. In this way you will become familiar with how the clock
frequency affects the frequency spectrum.

Assemble the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram and connect up the cards.

Allow the three-phase controller to drive a resistive-inductive load.

 What differences do you notice when the clock frequency changes?

(a) The current spectrum hardly changes

(b) The change in clock frequency is visible
More than one
At higher clock frequencies, the clock frequency has less
(c) answer may be
effect on the current spectrum.
correct
At lower clock frequencies, the clock frequency has less effect
(d)
on the current spectrum.

Comparison of different types of modulation

In this exercise you will investigate the magnitude of the output voltage for different
types of modulation. You should also learn how to interpret the various spectra.

Assemble the circuit shown in the circuit diagram and connect up the cards. Then
follow the instructions and answer the questions.

Let the three-phase AC power controller drive a resistive-inductive load.

 What kind of modulation is best suited to controlling electrical machines due
to the reduced harmonics and higher output voltage?

(a) Block commutation

(b) Sinusoidal modulation
(c) Vector-sine modulation
(d) Space vector modulation linear
(e) Space vector modulation sinusoidal

Determining the control factor

In this exercise you will use the voltage spectrum to determine the control factor.

Assemble the circuit shown in the circuit diagram and connect up the cards, then
follow the instructions in the software.

Let the three-phase AC power controller drive a resistive-inductive load.

THE END