International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

ISSN 2229-5518

322

Simulation of Active Front End Converter

Based VFD for Induction Motors
Aswathi G1,S Nalini2, R.Sudeep Kumar3
ABSTRACT : Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor based active front-end converters are widely utilized by industries due to the advantages of bidirectional power flow, unity power factor, low harmonic distortion of the line current, and smaller filter size. In this paper, the MATLAB Simulink model
and control of the active front end converter system based VFD for induction motors are presented .
KEYWORDS: Variable frequency drive(VFD),Space vector pulse width modulation(SVPWM),Active front end converter

I.

INTRODUCTION

Solid State Variable Frequency Drive is an adjustable speed

drive used in electromechanical drive systems to control
AC motor speed and torque by varying input frequency
and voltage. Over the last four decades power electronics
technology have improved performances in the field of
VFDs through advances in semiconductor switching
devices,drive topologies,simulations and control techniques
and control hardware and software. They have already
become an integral part of many process plants and their
usage is on the rise in industrial, commercial and
residential applications. The high dynamic performance,
increased flexibility and possible energy savings are among
the most important features driving the VFD market.They
are also economical, reliable,highly flexible in their use and
are rapidly becoming an important segment of the overall
industrial and commercial loads seen by most distribution
networks.While these new loads do contribute to the
overall load growth of the electric utility industry, it does
also create potentially severe problems in terms of the
"electrical pollution. In addition, these loads are often
rather sensitive to voltage dips and short supply
interruptions . The effects of these events may include the
total disconnection of the particular VFD load thereby
causing loss of revenue for the particular user. It will cause
a lost of production and may also incur significant restart
costs depending on the particular industrial process in
which the VFD is used.Hence reliable operation of these
VFDs have to be guaranteed in order to avoid
malfunctioning or interruption of the process.Also VFDs
consume about one third of worlds electrical energy and
thus its global market penetration is still relatively
small.This highlights the need for energy efficiency
improvement in new VFD installation.
The standard solution for industrial controlled drives
typically have an acdc conversion stage followed by dcac
conversion feeding an induction machine.Traditionally
diode rectifiers are used for acdc conversion. These
rectifiers can only produce a constant DC voltage, which is
a function of the system voltage. A thyristor rectifier can be
used to produce variable dc output voltage. But, both these

rectifiers behave as nonlinear loads. The currents drawn by

the rectifiers include a fundamental (or line frequency)
component and harmonic components. The voltage drop
across the line inductance due to the harmonic currents
distorts the mains voltage. Consequently, the other loads
connected to the mains are also fed with a distorted
voltage.A pulse width modulated (PWM) rectifier draws
near sinusoidal currents from the ac mains. Also, the dc
output voltage can be regulated, and the input power factor
is adjustable. Replacing the diode bridge by an IGBT bridge
allows to address regenerative or recuperative
operation,reduction of harmonic currents and control of
reactive power. For such a converter, the power can also
flow in either direction, which is required in many motor
drive applications. Since the converter is typically
connected in the line-side of a motor drive, this is called a
line-side converter or front-end converter (FEC).Active
front end converters are becoming an interesting solution
for power factor correction and low frequency current
harmonic elimination in static power conversion systems.
Due to current harmonic restrictions in power distribution
systems, active front end rectifiers offer a viable alternative
to replace traditional six pulse diode rectifiers in frequency
changers. Active front end (AFE) rectifiers have been
investigated for the last decade and provide a good
solution for the rectifying stage in frequency changers. The
main characteristics of AFE rectifiers are the generation of
reduced low frequency line current harmonics, due to the
use of pulse-width modulation (PWM), a better overall
power factor, substantially smaller filter requirements, and
inherent regeneration capabilities. Moreover, with the
development of new high voltage and current gate
controlled semiconductors, such as Insulated Gate Bipolar
Transistors (IGBTs) and Integrated Gate Controlled
Thyristors(IGCTs),and with the implementation of
multilevel structures, PWM-AFEs rectifiers are becoming
the standard solution for large-power mediumvoltageVFDs and are responsible of the drastic increment in
the market share of PWM voltage-source controlled
converters.

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

ISSN 2229-5518

This paper presents a complete MATLAB Simulink model

of an active front end converter based Variable frequency
drive for induction motors.
II.

PROPOSED SYSTEM

The proposed model consists of a Front End Converter, DC

link, Inverter and auxiliary motor loads. The single phase
AC supply is given as the input to the Front End Converter.
Fig 1 shows the schematic diagram representation of the
proposed system. The FEC converts the single phase
invariant AC supply to DC which is connected to the grid.
This DC is converted to desirable AC voltage by the
inverter and fed to the motor loads.

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The active power flows from the leading voltage to the

lagging voltage and the reactive power flows from the
higher voltage to the lower voltage. Therefore, both active
and reactive power can be controlled by controlling the
phase and magnitude of the converter voltage fundamental
component with respect to the grid voltage.
The following phasors depict the lagging,leading and upf
operation.

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(c)

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the proposed system

FEC Operation is indicated in fig 2.The converter consisting

of a single-phase bridge, a high capacitance on the dc side
and a single-phase inductor in the line-side. The voltage at
the midpoint of a leg or the pole voltage Vi is pulse width
modulated (PWM) in nature. The pole voltage consists of a
fundamental component (at line frequency) besides
harmonic components around the switching frequency of
the converter. Being at high frequencies, these harmonic
components are well ltered by the line inductor. Hence the
current is near sinusoidal. The fundamental component of
Vi controls the ow of real and reactive power.

Fig 3 Phasor diagrams of an FEC under different operating

modes: 3(a)lagging pf 3(b) unity pf and 3(c) regeneration at
unity pf.
Figure 3(a) illustrates the operation of FEC at lagging
power factor. The real power flows from the ac to the dc
side. Since U s is greater than U R , the reactive power flows
from the mains to the converter side. Figure 3(b)
corresponds to unity power factor operation. As the grid
voltage leads the converter pole voltage, real power flows
from the ac side to the dc side. Figure 3(c) shows the
operation under regenerative mode with the real power
flowing from the dc to the ac side and at unity power
factor.
Control Algorithm of FEC
The working of Front End Converter is carried out by the
control topology as shown in Fig 4.The algorithm
comprises of DC bus voltage controller followed by current
limiter, unit vector generation, a current controller and a
voltage limiter.
.

Fig 2: VFD with active front end converter

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

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324

Fig 4 FEC control algorithm

The Vdc error is fed to the DC bus controller which is
basically a PI controller whose output is limited to a
reference value. Sine component among the unit vectors
generated is multiplied to the Idc ref. Now the error in the
grid current is controlled using a P controller and limited to
a designed voltage value.
Unit Vector Generation
Unit vectors are Sine and Cosine signals which are 900
displaced irrespective of variation in grid frequency. , the
quantities sin and cos are the components of a revolving
unit vector are required. These quantities should have the
same frequency as that of the system voltage The unit
vector generation involves low pass lters, and hence
considerable dynamics and settling time. Fig5 below shows
the simplified block diagram for the unit vector generation.

Fig 6 a) The Complete SIMULINK Model of VFD

Fig 6a) shows the complete Simulink model of VFD which
comprises of a Single phase power supply,Front End
Converter, DC link, Inverter and three phase auxiliary
motor loads.
The sub-models of the various subsystems in the
SIMULINK model are shown below

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Fig 5 Unit vector generation

Signals FR and FR are displaced by 900, F R reaches the

peak when F R crosses the zero value. Similarly, FR
reaches peak at the zero crossing of F R . Therefore, by
identifying the zero crossing point of F R and F R , their
peak can be measured. Thus the sin and cos, the
components of revolving unit vector are generated. When
these quantities reaches steady state the control algorithm
is to be initiated.
Soft Start of VFD
The soft starting of the variable frequency drive is achieved
through the ramping of the input signal till the final 50Hz
frequency is reached. This V/f ramping control helps in
achieving a linearly increasing set of modulating
signals.These signals are compared with a repeating
sequence thereby generating pulses for triggering the
inverter switches.
III SIMULATION OF PROPOSED SYSTEM
The circuit of an Active Front End Converter based VFD
for induction motors is implemented using MATLAB/
SIMULINK.

Fig 6b) Front End Converter and DC link

Single phase FEC comprises of four IGBTS connected to he

supply as shown.These switches are triggered by gate
pulses generated via PWM pulse generation method. FEC
converts single phase AC to constant DC.
Fig 6c) depicts the unit vector generation which involves
low pass lters, and hence considerable dynamics and
settling time. If the controller is initiated before unit vector
reaches steady state, the angle is erroneous.
Consequently, controller generates references that are
inappropriate, leading to high starting currents. Hence, to
limit the starting currents, the control algorithm is to be
initiated only after the unit-vector reaches steady state.

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

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Fig. 8 Sine and Cosine unit vectors

Fig 8 shows the unit vectors. The sin and cos, the
components of revolving unit vector are generated. When
these quantities reaches steady state the control algorithm
is to be initiated.

Fig 6c) Unit vector generation

III RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A simulation model of this VFD with no load,R load and
motor load is created in MATLAB/SIMULINK so as
investigate circuit waveforms.

FEC operation
1)No load
Fig 9 shows the output of the active front end converter
during no load operation. The input AC is converted to
perfect DC in few seconds.

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A. Input Voltage
The waveform of the input single phase voltage
current is shown in Fig 7.

and

Fig. 9 FEC output at no load

Fig. 7 Input voltage and current

2)R load

Fig. 7 shows the voltage and current waveform of the input

power supply with the load connected in each phase. From
the diagram can see a unity power factor operation of the
active front end converter.
B.Unit vectors generated

Fig 10 FEC output at R load

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

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During no load after the initial rise in DC voltage it gets

settled to a stable level within few milliseconds. When the
resistive load is switched in the circuit,DC suddenly dips
and then slowly recover to the stable value as before.
3) Motor load

Fig. 14 INVERTER V & I

Fig. 11 FEC output at motor load

Fig 11 shows the behaviour of DC when a motor load is
connected to the inverter. The small dip corresponds to the
instant when input ramping frequency settles down at
50Hz.

Fig 16 shows the zoomed view of the fig at 50Hz . It shows

the inverter current is lagging with respect to inductor
voltage

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Fig.15 Zoomed view of Inverter V & I

showng lagging operation
IV CONCLUSION

Active front end converter and the complete

Simulink model of the VFD for induction motor
have been analysed with output waveforms. FECs
are becoming an integral part of industrial drive
systems due to its incomparable advantages.

Fig.12 Three phase modulating SVPWM waveforms

for the inverter.
Fig 12 shows the three phase modulating SVPWM
waveforms for the inverter.The increasing frequency of the
modulating signals are clearly seen in fig 13.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Fig 13 Variable Frequency SVPWM

Fig 14 show the inverter current and voltage. The
parameters are initially ramping in nature till they get
settled at the peak value at 50Hz.
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[4]

V REFERENCES
Terorde, G.; Driesen, J.; Belmans, R. Drive DC Bus
Voltage Control during Power Interruptions using
th
Kinetic Energy Recovery 10 IEEE International
Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power
2002, Page(s): 243 - 247 vol.1
Stoc k man. K; D i dden . M ; D 'hul ser . F; Bel ma n
s.R BAG TH E SAGSIndustry Applications
Magazine,IEEEVolume: 10, 2004,Page(s): 5965
Chung-ChuanHou; Po-Tai Cheng; Bhattacharya, S.;
Jarsun Lin, Modelling and Control of Three-Phase
Active front-end ConvertersIndustrial Electronics
Society, 2007.IECON 2007.33rd Annual Conference
of IEEE. Page(s): 1449 1454
Holtz, J.; Lotzkat, W.Controlled AC Drives with
Ride-Through Capability at Power Interruption,

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 6, June-2013

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Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting,

1993, Conference Record of the 1993 IEEE ,Page(s):
629 - 636 vol.1
[5] Luis Morn, Jos Espinoza, Mauricio Ortz, Jos
Rodrguez, Juan Dixon Practical problems
associated with the operation of ASDs based on

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Active Front End Converters in power distribution

systems 2004IEEE Page(s): 2568-2571
[6] Brian J. Seibel,Russel J. Kerkman,DavidLeggate,
Inverter Control During Overload and Following
Power Interruption 1992 IEEE Page(s): 567-573

AUTHORS

(M.E Scholar in Power Electronics & Drives,EEE Dept.,PSNA College of Engineering & Technology,Dindigul,TN,India)
(Associate Professor, EEE Dept.,PSNA College of Engineering & Technology,Dindigul,TN,India
3
(Associate Director,Power Electronics Group,CDAC,Kerala
2

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