Efficiency Analysis of Optimal PWM Method for Boost Inverter Applied to Electric/Hybrid Vehicles

Abstract

For drive train topologies, it is vital to evaluate the consequences of applying different pulse width modulation (PWM) methods for low energy consumption objects. This paper investigates a Boost Inverter for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles (HVs). Three PWM methods, including space vector PWM (SVPWM), power factor adaptation discontinuous PWM (PFA-DPWM), and $240^{\circ} -$clamped PWM (240CPWM), are presented and analyzed in the performance of Boost Inverter. The comparative analysis of switching loss and harmonic distortion shows that the switching loss of 240CPWM was reduced by 86.6% compared with SVPWM at unit power factor and 240CPWM has a similar harmonic distortion factor compared with SVPWM. Simulation results from a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and Boost Inverter drive topology with a variable-voltage control technique are presented. Based on the loss model of SiC MOSFET, the Boost Inverter efficiencies are shown in the form of efficiency maps used to validate the efficiency performance of different PWM methods. The simulation results demonstrate that the 240CPWM shows a higher efficiency of the Boost Inverter than the SVPWM and PFADPWM methods.