Overmodulation Index Optimization Method for Torque Quality Improvement in Induction Motor Field-Weakening Control

The overmodulation canimprove the utilization of dc-link voltage in the induction motor (IM) field-weakening (FW) control, thereby extending the maximum output torque. Nevertheless, the high modulation index (MI) will cause severe torque ripple. To figure out the relation between the torque ripple and MI, the amplitude of torque ripple with different MI is calculated quantitatively. Then, a torque quality evaluation function (TQEF) is designed to evaluate the torque quality in overmodulation-FW region by considering both fundamental torque extension and torque ripple suppression. On this basis, a modulation index optimization module is proposed for the maximum TQEF value realization. The analysis shows that the studied method could achieve the optimal trade-off between the fundamental torque extension and the torque ripple suppression. The TQEF value of the studied method is higher than that of the conventional six-step voltage method and the inscribed circle voltage method, meaning that the torque quality is optimized. Finally, the effectiveness of the studied method is verified experimentally on an advanced RISC machines (ARM)-based 3.7 kW IM platform.