Single-Switch Open-Circuit Diagnosis Method Based on Average Voltage Vector for Three-Level T-Type Inverter

Fault-tolerant control strategy plays a significant role in improving the reliability of three-level T-type inverter where fault diagnosis method is the key and a research hotspot. Load power factor variation and modulation index regulation have great effect on conventional load current based diagnosis methods. Therefore, this article proposes a novel voltage vector based method for single-switch open-circuit fault diagnosis in three-level T-type inverter. Average output voltage vector calculated by voltages between dc-link neutral-point and bridge output terminals is taken as the eigenvector in the procedure and failed switch can be located by three diagnosis variables including angle of eigenvector, normalized modulus of eigenvector, and neutral-point potential. These variables will be some certain values under circuit fault, which are defined as eigenvalues. The vector trajectory prediction technology is utilized for threshold setting, by which the diagnosis is suitable for different power factors and different modulation indices. The strategy of redundant vector replacement is applied to realize fault-tolerant operation and verifying the proposed scheme. Simulations and experiments are carried out to illustrate the superiorities of the proposal.