Multi-phase induction machine drive research—a survey

Due to the potential benefits resulting from the use of a phase order higher than three in transmission, some interest has also grown in the area of multi-phase machine. For machine drive applications, multi-phase system could potentially meet the demand for high power electric drive systems, which are both rugged and energy-efficient. High phase number drives possess several advantages over conventional three-phase drives such as: reducing the amplitude and increasing the frequency of torque pulsation, reducing the rotor harmonic currents, reducing the current per phase without increasing the voltage per phase, lowering the dc link current harmonics, higher reliability and increased power in the same frame. The high phase order drive is likely to remain limited to specialized applications where high reliability is demanded such as electric/hybrid vehicles, aerospace applications, ship propulsion, and high power application where a combination of several solid state devices form one leg of the drive. The research has been underway for the last two decades to investigate the various issues related to the use of multi-phase machine as a potential alternative to the conventional three-phase machine. This paper, therefore, reviews the progress made in multi-phase induction machine drive research and development since its inception. Attempts are made to highlight the current and future issues involved for the development of multi-phase induction machine drive technology for future application. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.