Comparison of Performance and Characteristics by Application of Different PWM Techniques to Review the Application of 3-level ANPC Drive System for Railway Vehicles

This paper explores the performance optimization of a 3-level Active Neutral Point Clamped (ANPC) inverter, focusing on its application in high-voltage, high-precision motor control systems for railway vehicles. With the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient energy solutions in the transportation sector, improving inverter efficiency and reliability is crucial. We analyze the operational principles of the 3-level ANPC inverter and compare three Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques: Sinusoidal PWM (SPWM), Space Vector PWM (SVPWM), and Reference Point Saturation-based PWM (RPS-B PWM). Simulations conducted using PSIM software demonstrate that the Reference Point Saturation-based PWM technique significantly reduces total harmonic distortion (THD) and enhances power efficiency compared to SPWM and SVPWM, making it highly suitable for railway vehicle applications.