Inverter operation with over-modulation

1. A variable frequency drive, comprising:

a plurality of power cells, wherein each power cell comprises an input to receive three-phase power from a secondary winding of a transformer and an output to deliver single-phase power to a phase of a three-phase motor, and wherein each power cell is configured without a neutral connection between the input and the output;

a control system that controls the operation of each of the power cells;

wherein the control system is programmed to increase the output voltage of each of the power cells using overmodulation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event while maintaining equal power flow through each power cell.

2. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC voltage of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 4160V, and the drive includes less than twelve power cells.

3. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC voltage of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 4160V, the drive includes at least twelve cells, and at least one cell per phase provides redundancy.

4. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 6.6 kilovolts to approximately 6.9 kilovolts, and the drive includes less than eighteen power cells.

5. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC voltage of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 6.6 kilovolts to approximately 6.9 kilovolts, the drive includes at least eighteen cells, and at least one cell per phase provides redundancy.

6. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 10 kilovolts, and the drive includes less than twenty-four power cells.

7. The drive of claim 1 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC voltage of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts, the motor is rated to operate at approximately 10 kilovolts, the drive includes at least twenty-four and at least one cell per phase provides redundancy.

8. The drive of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of steady-state operation of the motor, the motor having reached a predetermined percentage of rated speed, the detection of a voltage change that crosses a threshold level, or the detection of bypass of at least one of the power cells.

9. A variable-frequency drive, comprising:

a plurality of power cells, wherein:

each power cell has an input to receive three-phase power from a secondary winding of a transformer;

each power cell has an output to deliver single-phase power to a phase of a three-phase load;

each power cell is configured without a neutral connection between the input and the output;

if the load is rated to operate at approximately 4160 volts, the plurality of power cells comprises fewer than twelve power cells;

if the load is rated to operate at approximately 6.6 kilovolts to approximately 6.9 kilovolts, the plurality of power cells comprises fewer than eighteen power cells; and

if the load is rated to operate at approximately 10 kilovolts, the plurality of power cells comprises fewer than twenty-four power cells; and

a control system that increases the output voltage of the power cells using overmodulation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event while maintaining equal power flow through each power cell.

10. The drive of claim 9 , wherein each power cell is rated to operate with an input AC voltage of approximately 740 volts to approximately 780 volts.

11. The drive of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of steady-state operation of the motor, the motor having reached a predetermined percentage of rated speed, the detection of a voltage change that crosses a threshold level, or the detection of bypass of at least one of the power cells.

12. A method of operating a variable frequency drive, comprising:

operating a plurality of power cells that are configured as three phases of series-connected cells to deliver power to a load, wherein each power cell is configured without a neutral connection between its input and output;

using a control system to apply overmodulation to increase the output voltage of at least some of the power cells under steady-state conditions upon the occurrence of a predetermined event while maintaining equal power flow through the some of the power cells.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising monitoring the operating speed of the load, and the predetermined event detecting that the operating speed is at or above a predetermined level.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined level is approximately 95% of the maximum speed of the load.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising monitoring the plurality of power cells to detect when a power cell has been bypassed, and wherein the predetermined event comprises detection of a bypass.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the use of overmodulation is also performed under transient conditions.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the use of overmodulation comprises sinusoidal modulation.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the use of overmodulation comprises sinusoidal modulation with third-harmonic injection.