A linear programming approach for designing multilevel PWM waveforms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a linear programming method for designing multilevel PWM waveforms that meet specific harmonic requirements while minimizing total harmonic distortion, making the process computationally efficient.

Contribution

It presents a novel linear programming formulation for multilevel PWM design that ensures harmonic constraints are met with minimal distortion, improving computational tractability.

Findings

The method effectively minimizes total harmonic distortion within a small optimality bound.

Simulations confirm the approach's efficiency and accuracy in waveform design.

The approach is applicable across various engineering fields involving PWM design.

Abstract

This paper considers the problem of designing a multilevel pulse width modulated waveform (PWM) with a prescribed harmonic content. Multilevel PWM design plays a major role in many diverse engineering disciplines. In power electronics, multilevel PWM design corresponds to determining the inverter switching times and levels for selective harmonic elimination and harmonic compensation. In mechatronics, the same design corresponds to shaping input signals to damp residual vibrations in flexible structures. More generally, in most applications, the aim of PWM design is to minimize the total harmonic distortion while adhering to a prescribed harmonic content. The solution approach presented in this paper is based on linear programming with the objective of minimizing the total harmonic distortion. This objective is achieved within an arbitrarily small bound of the optimal solution. In addition, the linear programming formulation makes the design of such switching waveforms computationally tractable and efficient. Simulations are provided for corroboration.