SVPWM (Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation) reference generator

Description of the SVPWM References Generator component in Schematic Editor, which generates PWM reference signals for three-phase two-Level inverters using the space-vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique.

Component Icon

Figure 1. SVPWM References Generator icon

Description

This block generates PWM reference signals for three-phase two-Level inverters using the space-vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique.

The objective of this technique is to instantaneously approximate the reference voltage vector (Uref), given in the alpha-beta domain by combining the switching states which are representing the basic space vectors. The basic space vectors are obtained as all possible combinations of states for three inverter legs. There are two possible states for every leg:
  • upper switch in leg is active – state 1;
  • lower switch in leg is active – state 0,

This gives us eight possible basic space vectors, which are given in table 1. Vectors from U1 to U6 are different non-zero vectors, while vectors U7 and U8 represent two zero vectors (All three upper switches, or all three lower switches active).

Vector Leg 1 state Leg 2 state Leg 3 state
U1 1 0 0
U2 1 1 0
U3 0 1 0
U4 0 1 1
U5 0 0 1
U6 1 0 1
U7 0 0 0
U8 1 1 1

This is illustrated in Figure 2:

Figure 2. Approximation of the reference voltage vector based on SVPWM technique

In every PWM period, the reference voltage vector is obtained by using two adjacent non-zero space vectors, depending on the sector in which the reference vector is located (e.g. in Figure 2 the reference vector is in sector 3, so space vectors U3 and U4 are used). These two space vectors are being used for a certain amount of time and a null vector (U7 or U8) is used for the remaining time.

Generated reference signals should be used with the 3-channel PWM modulator component to implement full SVPWM operation. The execution rate should be set to the same value as for the PWM Modulator period. Input and output signals have a range of -1.0 to 1.0.

Figure 3 illustrates the generation of three-phase SVPWM reference waveforms according to the alpha-beta reference input.

Figure 3. Example of generation of the reference waveforms for a three-phase Space vector PWM modulator from an alpha-beta input signal.

Ports

  • alpha (in)
    • Alpha signal of the component used to generate the signal for the modulator of a three-phase SVPWM modulation system.
      • Supported types: uint, int, real.
      • Vector support: no.
  • beta (in)
    • Beta signal of the component used to generate the signal for the modulator of a three-phase SVPWM modulation system.
      • Supported types: uint, int, real.
      • Vector support: no.
  • refA (out)
    • Reference for phase A of a three-phase SVPWM modulator.
      • Supported types: real.
      • Vector support: no.
  • refB (out)
    • Reference for phase B of a three-phase SVPWM modulator.
      • Supported types: real.
      • Vector support: no.
  • refC (out)
    • Reference for phase C of a three-phase SVPWM modulator.
      • Supported types: real.
      • Vector support: no.

Properties

  • Execution rate
    • Type in the desired signal processing execution rate. This value must be compatible with other signal processing components of the same circuit: the value must be a multiple of the fastest execution rate in the circuit. There can be up to four different execution rates, but they must all be multiple of the basic simulation timestep. To specify the execution rate, you can use either decimal (e.g. 0.001) or exponential values (e.g. 1e-3) in seconds. Alternatively, you can type in ‘inherit’ in which case the component will be assigned execution rate based on the execution rate of the components it is receiving input from.