Abstract
The multimotor drives supplied from reduced switch-count converter topologies are potentially employed in different applications such as EVs/HEVs and traction systems. Much research work has been done to investigate the feasibility of different series/parallel-motor connections in an appropriate manner while being supplied by a single Voltage Source Inverter (VSI). In this paper, a new Fifteen-Switch Inverter (15-SI) topology for supplying two independent five-phase motors is proposed. This topology can be considered as an extension to the well-known nine-switch converter topology, which can be used to independently control two three-phase motor drives. First, the proposed inverter topology and its mathematical model are presented. Then, three carrier-based Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) schemes to control the converter and their operational constraints are investigated under Common Frequency (CF) and Variable Frequency (VF) modes of operation. The proposed system is validated by simulating the proposed 15-SI feeding two identical five-phase induction motors using Matlab/Simulink.