Space Vector Modulation (SVM) is a control strategy used in the field-oriented control (FOC) of induction motors. It is a technique used to generate the appropriate voltage signals for the motor's three-phase stator windings in order to achieve precise control of the motor's speed and torque.
The principle of SVM revolves around the concept of representing the three-phase voltage system as a rotating vector in a two-dimensional space known as the "Clarke plane" or "α-β plane." In this plane, the α-axis represents the original three-phase system's phase "A" voltage, and the β-axis is at a 120-degree electrical angle with respect to the α-axis.
The SVM process involves the following steps:
Clarke Transformation: The three-phase voltage signals (Va, Vb, and Vc) are first transformed into two-phase signals (α and β) using Clarke transformation. This transformation helps convert the three-phase system into a two-dimensional space.
Park Transformation: The α-β signals obtained from the Clarke transformation are then transformed into a stationary reference frame (d-q frame) that rotates with the motor's rotor speed. This transformation is known as Park transformation and involves aligning the d-axis with the rotor flux and the q-axis at a 90-degree electrical angle to the d-axis.
Vector Generation: In SVM, the desired motor operation point is represented as a rotating vector in the d-q plane. The magnitude of this vector represents the desired voltage amplitude, and its angle represents the desired phase angle. The goal is to find the appropriate voltage vectors that will produce the desired voltage in the d-q plane.
Voltage Vector Selection: To generate the desired voltage vector in the d-q plane, SVM selects one of the predefined voltage vectors that lie at specific angles in the α-β plane. These predefined voltage vectors are evenly spaced and form the vertices of a hexagon, often referred to as the "hexagon of reference vectors."
Voltage Time Ratios: Once the voltage vector is selected, SVM determines the ratio of time for which each of the voltage vectors should be applied during each sampling period to achieve the desired average voltage in the d-q plane. This is based on the position of the rotating vector in the α-β plane.
Modulation: The final step involves applying the selected voltage vectors with the appropriate time ratios to the motor's three-phase stator windings. This modulation process generates the desired voltage in the d-q plane and thus controls the motor's speed and torque as per the desired operation point.
SVM is a popular control method due to its ability to achieve higher efficiency, reduced torque ripple, and better utilization of the available voltage and current for motor control. It is widely used in various industrial applications for controlling induction motors and other three-phase AC machines.