Harmonic analysis of space vector modulated PWM waveforms

Abstract

While most traditional PWM inverters use the asymmetrical regularly sampled triangulation technique to generate waveforms, a recently reported space vector PWM method is rapidly gaining favour in the industrial drives arena as an alternative technique. The paper presents an analysis of the space vector PWM waveform to obtain its spectrum. The analysis is based on a novel decomposition technique, illustrated by considering the harmonics of a regularly sampled asymmetrical sinusoidal PWM waveform, which is in fact a partial solution to the space vector harmonics. The calculated harmonics show close agreement with measured harmonics from an experimental microprocessor-controlled inverter operating with the same waveform parameters.