Impact of an Open-Switch Fault in T-Type Five-Phase Inverters for Induction Motor Drives

The combination of multiphase and multilevel technologies enables the achievement of higher power density in motor drives as well as generating systems for wind energy and aircraft applications. Multiphase systems are inherently more reliable than traditional three-phase systems, even though the multilevel technology utilizes a greater number of switches than traditional two-level converters. Consequently, it is crucial to select an appropriate strategy to manage faults. The T -type converter is a popular choice in industrial applications due to its promising efficiency performance. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the impact of an open-switch fault on the performance of a five-phase induction motor drive. Experimental tests have been carried out on a three-level T -type inverter connected to a five-phase induction machine to validate the analysis.