Topologies of converters for two-phase AC motors

Roman Konarik, Michal Pridala, Miriam Jarabicova,

Jozef Sedo Tomas Laskody
Department of mechatronics and electronics BSH Drives and Pumps s.r.o.
University of Zilina Michalovce, Slovak Republic
Zilina, Slovak Republic tlaskody@gmail.com
roman.konarik@fel.uniza.sk

Abstract—The paper deals with topologies of two, three and
four leg converters for two-phase AC motors and the analysis of
space vector pulse width modulation. Space Vector Modulated
Direct Torque Control (SVM-DTC) for the two-phase induction
motor is also used. Proposed control technique and estimators are
simulated with Matlab/Simulink. Experimental verification is
done with dSPACE environment.
source [2]. The auxiliary phase is connected to the voltage
source inverter thus it is necessary to control the switches to
ensure 90-degree phase shift to the main phase. In Reduced
speed operation, the main winding and auxiliary windings are
fed by voltage source inverter. In series with auxiliary phase,
there is also connected a capacitor which creates phase shift.

Keywords—Single-Phase Induction Motor, Single-leg Single-

phase Voltage Source Inverter, Single-leg Single-phase Matrix
Converter, SVPWM, SVM-DTC, VSI, MxC

I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, the AC motors are the ones most common used
for variable speed drives (VSDs). Induction motors and
permanent magnets synchronous motors (PMSM) are standards.
They can be used in various applications, e.g. in air conditioners,
elevators, robotics, marine propulsions and many others. DC
drives were used in the past because of rugged and simple speed
regulation in a wide range. Although this indisputable
advantage, DC variable speed drives have many disadvantages Fig. 1. Single-leg voltage source inverter.
such as high price, commutator and brush maintenance.
Stator voltage frequency can be changed in a wide range.
Development of semiconductor devices and frequency Thus the speed can also be changed. The capacitor can only be
converters brings opportunity to AC drives for wider application designed for a specified frequency and load torque; therefore,
in industry. Because of semiconductor frequency converter, AC the phase shift cannot be precisely set for 90 degrees. It may
variable speed drives can be described as follows: available cause the torque and speed ripple [2].
maximal torque in wide speed range, constant switching
frequency, small torque and flux ripple function of the motor in B. Single-leg matrix converter
four quadrants, fast change of torque and flux. From single leg voltage source inverter, it was derived a
scheme for single leg matrix converter Fig. 2.
II. SINGLE-LEG CONVERTERS
A. Single-leg voltage source inverter
One of the disadvantages of a single-phase induction motor
is a zero torque at zero speed. Thus, the starting capacitor
connected in series with auxiliary windings is usually used to
keep 90-degree phase shift.
In the figure Fig. 1, the scheme of a single-leg voltage source
inverter fed the two-phase induction motor is shown. The
topology consists of a voltage multiplier and single-leg voltage Fig. 2. Single-leg matrix converter.
source inverter. The topology can work in two operation modes
and allows us to change the speed of a motor. [1] [2] [3] [4]. In The matrix converter requires a bidirectional switch,
Full speed operation, the Main winding (relay in position 1) is capable of blocking voltage and conducting current in both
fed directly by the single-phase AC voltage source. Therefore, directions the energy flow can get from source to load and back.
the voltage has the magnitude and the frequency of a voltage These bidirectional switches, consisting of a pair of devices
with turn-off capability, can be reverse blocking RB_IGBTs or
The authors wish to thank for the financial support to VEGA 1/0928/15 -
Research of electronic control of power transmission and motion of road ICE-
hybrid HEV and EV vehicles.

978-1-5090-6406-9/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

more usually IGBTs with anti-parallel diodes, connected in
either a common collector or a common emitter back-to-back
arrangement [5] [6] [7]. Similarly, to single leg voltage source
inverter, single leg matrix converter also works in two operation
modes, Full speed, and Reduced speed.
III. TWO-PHASE CONVERTERS
A. Two-phase voltage source inverter with two legs
The topology in Fig. 3 consists of four semiconductor
switches. The low number of semiconductor switches is the
main advantage of the topology [8], [20]. Those switches create
two half-bridge inverters, each of them powers one of the
windings. The disadvantage, which this topology suffers from,
is the low magnitude of the output voltage. It is half of a DC
voltage in interlink.
Fig. 3. Voltage source inverter with two legs.
Another disadvantage is hidden in control of the switches:
only bipolar PWM can be used, which has negative
consequences on current total harmonic distortion.
B. Two-phase voltage source inverter with three legs
The topology is shown in Fig. 4 consists of six
semiconductor switches. Two of a three legs power each of the
windings and the third leg is common for a common phase of a
motor. [9]
Fig. 4. Voltage source inverter with three legs.
As a control of the switches, it can be used the modified
SPWM described in [10] where sin(ωt), cos(ωt) and –sin(ωt)
are used as the reference voltages.
The advantage compared to the converter with two legs is
in better usage of a DC interlink. While inverter with two legs
can put only half of DC voltage interlink magnitude, inverter
with three legs can use U_DC/√2 [11].
C. Using of Matrix Converter to power TPIM
Matrix converter has an advantage compared to voltage
source inverter in dimensions and DC interlink absence. Thus,
there is no need to use big capacitance. However, the price of
such a converter is not quite small. It is necessary to use
bidirectional switches. One of the options how to use matrix
converter is to use a converter with two stages Fig. 5.
Fig. 5. Block diagram of a two-stage converter.
The first stage consists of a full-bridge inverter which
creates high-frequency voltage for AC interlink. As a first stage
converter, it can also be used the resonant converter (LCL2C2).
As a second stage converter, considered LCL2C2 as a first
stage, it can be used the matrix converter with two legs, which
are two half bridges matrix converters.
IV. SPACE VECTOR PULSE WIDTH MODULATION
To assure the correct function of SVM-DTC, it is necessary
to understand and properly apply the space vector pulse width
modulation [14]. For the two-phase systems, there are three
ways how to create it with voltage source inverter. The first
option is to use the voltage source inverter with two legs, three
or four legs.
Fig. 6. Block diagram of space vector modulation
The basic principle of space vector pulse width modulation
is based on obtaining reference voltage vector. If reference
voltage vector is well-known, the switching times can be
calculated and finally switching pulses can be created.
A. SVPWM for Voltage Source Inverter with Two Legs
The topology consists of four switches and two capacitors,
which creates a common point for connection of a main and
auxiliary phase of a motor. [11]
The topology can turn-on a four active voltage vectors, but
none of a zero voltage vectors Fig. 7. The number of active
voltage vectors is given by combinations of switches. Vectors
are shifted in a complex plane by 90 degrees and its magnitude
is /√2.
The vectors can be described by the following equation:
1
U = U e
√2
where n=1,2,3,4.
Active voltage vectors divide a complex plane into four
sectors, in which the reference voltage can be placed. [8]
 V4(0,0,1,0)
V2 (1,1) V6(0,1,1,0) V5(1,1,1,0)
V3(1,0,1,0)
1 2

3
1
U2 UREF
Uβ
Uβ U2 URef V7(0,1,1,1)
2 θ UDC V8(0,1,0,0) 4 θ U1
U1 4 Uα V1(1,0,0,0)
V3 (0,1) Uα
V1 (1,0) 8 V2(1,0,1,1)

V0(0,0,0,0)
5 V13(0,0,1,1)
7 V14(1,1,0,0)
V15(1,1,1,1)
3 6

V4 (0,0) V9(0,1,0,1) V10(1,1,0,1) V12(1,0,0,1)

V11(0,0,0,1)
Fig. 9. Space vectors of two-phase VSI with four legs.
Fig. 7. Space vectors of two-phase VSI with two legs.
D. SVPWM for Matrix Converter with Two Legs
The topology controlled by SVPWM is not able to turn on
The converter consists of two solid state switches and a
a zero voltage vectors, which is a major disadvantage of voltage
resonant filter tuned for the fundamental harmonic component.
source inverter with two legs. Zero voltage vectors are used in
The resonant converter constitutes two serial and two parallel
SVPWM to fill time in sampling period which is not needed to
LC components. [13]
create a reference voltage vector.
B. SVPWM for Voltage Source Inverter with Three Legs
The topology Fig. 8 consists of six semiconductor switches
and a DC voltage source. Compared to the topology of VSI with
two legs, this topology is able to create output voltage with
magnitude of [12].
√
V3 (1,0,1) V2 (0,0,1)

Fig. 10. Two-stage MxC with a resonant converter as a first stage.

2
As it can be seen from Fig. 10, the matrix converter
1 topology consists of two bidirectional switches per phase. The
Uα
U2 task of the matrix converter is to generate a variable low-
V4 (1,0,0)
3 θ U1 UDC frequency voltage powering the two-phase induction motor.
Uβ 6 The half-bridge topology of the matrix converter - operating at
V0 (0,0,0) V1 (0,1,1)
V7 (1,1,1) ZVS mode - allows the creation of a voltage space vector,
4 whose length is equal to half the value of the AC supply
5 voltage (UAC/2). This topology is able to turn-on eight active
voltage space vectors but no zero space vectors.
V2 (1,1)
V5 (1,1,0) V6 (0,1,0) V6 (0,0)

Fig. 8. Space vectors of two-phase VSI with three legs 1

Six semiconductor switches are able to turn-on eight voltage

vectors, six active voltage vectors and two zero voltage vectors.
Uβ U2
Zero voltage can be created in two ways, all top or bottom 2 θ 0,707*UDC
switches are turned on [21], [22]. V3 (0,1) U1 4 V1 (1,0)
V7 (1,0) Uα
Six active voltage vectors divide a complex plane into six V5 (0,1)

sectors shown in Fig. 8.10, [23].

C. SVPWM for Voltage Source Inverter with Four Legs 3
Voltage source inverter with four legs Fig. 9 is created by V4 (0,0)
V8 (1,1)
eight semiconductor switches. Sixteen voltage vectors can be
Fig. 11. Space vectors of two-phase MxC with two legs
turned on. Twelve can be considered as active voltage vectors
and four as zero voltage vectors. Active voltage vectors divide As it is shown in Fig. 11, the length of each of these active
the complex plane into eight sectors. [12] space vectors is equal to 0.717*UDC. Hence, the following
general equation representing each of these vectors can be
written as:
 1 Voltage vector number 0-15 is valid for positive voltage in
= AC-link. For negative voltage in AC-link, it is valid voltage
√2
vector number 16-31.
where n =1, 2, 3, …
V4(0,0,1,0) V19(1,1,0,1)
Active voltage vectors are regularly shifted by π/2, and V6(0,1,1,0) V21(1,0,0,1) V5(1,1,1,0) V20(0,0,0,1) V3(1,0,1,0)
they divide the complex plane into four operating sectors. 2 V18(0,1,0,1)

V2 (1,1) 3
1
U2 UREF
Uβ
V7(0,1,1,1) V16(0,1,1,1)
1
V8(0,1,0,0) 4 θ U1 V17(0,1,0,0)
V22(1,0,0,0) Uα V1(1,0,0,0)
8 V2(1,0,1,1)
V23(1,0,1,1)
URef + ΔV
2
Ts

5
ΔV 7
t21 V12(1,0,0,1)
ΔV 2 6
URef 2 V27(0,1,1,0)
V9(0,1,0,1) V24(1,0,1,0) V10(1,1,0,1) V25(0,0,1,0)
t20 V11(0,0,0,1) V26(1,1,1,0)
t2
2
V0(0,0,0,0) V13(0,0,1,1) V14(1,1,0,0) V15(1,1,1,1)
V3 (0,1) t11 θ t1 t11 V28(0,0,0,0) V29(0,0,1,1) V30(1,1,0,0) V31(1,1,1,1)
t21 t10 Zero Voltage Vectors
V1 (1,0)
ΔV Ts Fig. 14. Distribution of space vectors in two-phase matrix converter with
- 2 four legs.
4
3 V4 (0,0)
Fig. 12. Definition of turn-on times. Reference voltage vector is created by the vector sum of
demanded voltages [8].
As it is illustrated in Fig. 12 the case that the reference vector
(URef) is located in the first sector and its length is less than the =
maximum value of UAC/2, it is necessary to compute the
difference between the magnitude of the reference vector and V. SIMULATIONS
the maximum value (∆U). Simulations were performed by the simulation tool
E. SVPWM for Matrix Converter with Four Legs Matlab/Simulink with simulation step 1e-5 s.
Matrix converter topology is created by first stage full A. Matrix Converter With Motor Load
bridge inverter and second stage matrix converter. The task of The operation of matrix converter with a motor load in
full bridge inverter is to create appropriate high-frequency open-loop operation. Start-up and steady state at the nominal
voltage. Second stage matrix converter uses high-frequency speed of the motor are shown in following figure Fig. 15.
voltage given by the first stage and creates two-phase voltages
for a two-phase induction motor. Full bridge topology of matrix
converter Fig. 13 allows creating of the voltage vector with
length equal to the value of DC source.
The topology allows to turn-on sixteen active voltage vectors
with length equal to UDC, eight voltage vectors with length
equal to 1.414*UDC and also eight zero voltage vectors. Fig. 14
shows the distribution of space vectors in two-phase matrix
converter with four legs. Voltage vectors divide the complex
plane into eight operating areas evenly distributed by 45
degrees. Fig. 15. Angular speed and stator currents.
First Stage Inverter Second Stage MxC
S11 S13 Detail of stator currents and adequate stator voltages during
S1 S3 S5 S7 two periods at steady state are shown in Fig. 16.

UDC
S12 S14

S2 S4 S6 S8

Main M
=
Aux

Fig. 13. Two-stage MxC with four legs. Fig. 16. Stator voltages and stator currents in two periods.
B. Electromagnetic Stator Flux Control
Following figure Fig. 17 shows a step function of demanded
stator magnetic flux and system step response for it. As it can
be seen from the figure, PI regulator of stator flux assures fast
and accurate regulation [16].
The magnitude of stator flux which is used for regulation is
composed of the two components of stator flux in phase α and
β. Therefore, these fluxes have to be as accurate to the real
stator fluxes as possible [17], [18]. The time waveforms of
stator fluxes and estimated stator fluxes are shown in the
Fig. 20. Real and estimated electromagnetic torque.
following figure Fig. 18.
As it can be seen from the Fig. 20, control of
electromagnetic torque also works with accuracy and good
dynamics similarly to electromagnetic stator flux control.

Fig. 17. Electromagnetic stator flux.

Fig. 21. Angular speed.

When the fastest control loops were set-up, slower control

Fig. 18. Stator flux components; real and estimated.
Another, but not less important quantity which can be
extracted from stator fluxes is the position of stator flux θs.
From estimated stator fluxes, the estimated position of stator
flux can be easily computed. This estimated position of stator
flux is used for transformation between references frames x-y
and α-β to get reference voltages for space vector pulse width
modulation. In the following figure Fig. 19 position of stator
flux and the estimated position of stator flux is shown.
loop can also be applied into control. Difference between speed
command and actual speed gives an error as input information
for PI angular speed PI controller, output of the controller is
information of demanded electromagnetic torque used for
torque control loop. In the Fig. 21 speed response of motor drive
is shown.
VI. EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION
Experiments were provided by a system dSpace DS 1103
[15], [19] and software Matlab-Simulink. All of the
experiments were made with computational step of 4e-5 s.
Converter was loaded by a symmetrical two-phase induction
motor. As a speed sensor, an incremental sensor was used.
A. Electromagnetic Stator Flux Control and Torque Control

Fig. 19. Real and estimated stator flux vector position.

After the flux control loop was set-up, another fast control Fig. 22. Demanded and estimated stator flux.
loop was set-up. Step response of electromagnetic torque is
shown in the following figure. After the stator, electromagnetic flux has been set. Also, the
electromagnetic torque control loop has been set.

Fig. 23. Demanded electromagnetic torque step change and estimated
electromagnetic torque.
The graph in Fig. 23 shows step change of demanded
electromagnetic torque and its response.
Fig. 24. Angular speed step change.
After the flux and torque control loop has been set and its
correct function was verified, the speed loop has been set. At
first step response of angular speed was tested. The step
response of angular speed is shown in Fig. 24.
VII. CONCLUSION
The article deals with different types of converters
topologies used for two-phase induction motors and SVPWMs.
Part of the article deals with the overview of SVM for different
types of converters resulting in space vector modulation for
direct torque control of a two-phase induction motor. SVM-
DTC uses electromagnetic stator flux and electromagnetic
torque loop to control a motor. Because it is not easy to measure
electromagnetic stator flux, several electromagnetic stator flux
estimators were used. One of the estimators was chosen by
experimental verification. With solid electromagnetic stator
flux and torque estimator, the SVM-DTC for the two-phase
induction motor was experimentally tested. Proposed control
algorithm provides a drive with good dynamics of stator flux
and electromagnetic torque, low current THD and speed
dynamics.
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