WSEAS Transactions on Power Systems
Print ISSN: 1790-5060, E-ISSN: 2224-350X
Volume 21, 2026
The Method for Assessing the Magnitude of
Air Gap Torque Ripple of an Induction Motor Powered by an
Autonomous Voltage Source Inverter or Current Source Inverter
Author:
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Abstract: The magnitude of the air gap torque (electromagnetic torque) ripple is an important characteristic of
the operating mode of an induction motor powered by a voltage source inverter or a current source inverter. Its
empirical determination is quite difficult (the torque sensor is expensive and requires precise installation). The
air gap torque of the IM can be calculated using the harmonic analysis method. This method involves
decomposing the supply voltage or current of the converter into a truncated Fourier series into time harmonics
and calculating the parameters of the T-shaped equivalent circuit of the induction motor for each harmonic.
After that it is possible to calculate in this way power, efficiency, the average value of the air gap torque, and
the magnitudes of currents or voltages. So, the ripple factor of the air gap torque, which the magnitude of
torque pulsations in relative units. The disadvantage is the large amount of initial data on the machine
parameters and operating mode characteristics required for the calculation. A simple method is proposed by the
author for approximately calculating (assessing) the magnitude of air gap torque ripple in a quasi-steady state
using two oscillograms: phase current and phase voltage of an induction motor. The relationship between the
harmonic composition of the voltage and the magnitude of the air gap torque ripple has been revealed.
Keywords:
current source inverter, harmonic composition, induction motor, method for calculating, phasor
diagram, pulse-width modulation, ripple factor, torque ripple magnitude, voltage source inverter
Pages: 340-354
DOI: 10.37394/232016.2026.21.26