How do changes in power electronic

systems and power electronic devices

affect the use of electric machines?

Trial lecture

Raghbendra Tiwari
PhD Candidate, Department of Electric Energy

18th December 2023

 Outline
• Introduction
– Power electronics and energy conversion
• Applications of electric drives
– Variable speed operation
– System efficiency optimization
– Enabler for new applications
• Power electronics devices
– Types of devices
– Impact of switching behavior on machines
– Electric machine insulation
• Influence of power electronic converter on electric
machines
• Summary
2
 Introduction
Power Electronics Devices and Power Electronics Systems

• Power Electronics Devices

– Semiconductor devices used as a switch or rectifier
– Examples: Diode, Thyristor, BJT, MOSFET, IGBT

• Power Electronics Systems

– Combination of power electronics devices and control systems
for the application of energy conversion
– Examples: Rectifier, Inverter, DC/DC converter

3
 Power Electronics and Energy Conversion

Power electronics
Motors/generators Electrical→ Electrical
Electrical→ Mechanical Alters the frequency and voltage
Alters the form of energy

Transformers
Electrical → Electrical
Alters the voltage level
4 Image source: www.abb.com and www.semikron.com
 Outline

• Introduction
– Power electronics and energy conversion
• Applications of electric drives
– Variable speed operation
– System efficiency optimization
– Enabler for new applications
• Power electronics devices
– Types of devices
– Impact of switching behavior on machines
– Electric machine insulation
• Influence of power electronic converter on electric
machines
5
• Summary
 Applications of Power Electronics

Ship propulsion Hybrid/Electric vehicles

Electric aircrafts

Electric locomotives
Elevators Applications of
Power
Electronics
HVDC transmission line

Superconducting magnets

Wind tunnel
Wind power Pumped storage plants Solar plant
6
 Variable speed operation
Energy saving in pump application

A significant amount of energy is saved by using variable-speed drives.

7 Reference: https://blog.fluid-eng.com/
 Variable speed operation
Few other applications without power electronics

• Applications
– Elevators
– Mine hoists
– Paper machines
– Cranes

Ward Leonard drive scheme (1891)

– Existed in several configurations including AC motor or

diesel engine as the prime mover
– Modifed with flywheel to deal with fast load changes

Reference: W. Leonhard, «Control of Electrical Drives», Springer 1985, and Wikipedia: Ward Leonard control
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 Variable Speed Drives
With power electronics

▪ Increased system efficiency

▪ High-efficiency converters
and machines
▪ Precise and dynamic control

▪ Enables regenerative braking

Topology of a common industrial drive

system

▪ Two machines are eliminated from the system without power

electronics.
▪ High-efficiency 3-ph electrical machines can be used.
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 System efficiency and cost optimization
Example – Marine applications

• Optimization of the combination of electric machine and

gearbox
• Application of a converter has given the freedom to choose
the frequency of the machine
– Rated frequency can be chosen more freely for the same rated speed
– Machines of 100 – 300 Hz are already in use on many ships
– Low-frequency machines up to 15 Hz, and 60 rpm are also used for
gearless operation.
• Freedom in optimization of system efficiency

Gearless propulsion with tandem motor Propulsion line with reduction gear
10 Image source: www.brunvoll.com and www.stadt.com
 Power electronics – an enabler of
new technologies
• Extensive use of permanent magnet machines
– High torque density and high-efficiency machine
• Wind power connection to the grid
• Two power systems at different frequencies can be
interconnected
• Variable speed operation of pumped storage plants
• Robotics and drones

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 Outline

• Introduction
• Applications
– Variable speed operation
– High-frequency machines
– Enabler for new applications
• Power electronics devices
– Types of devices
– Impact of switching behavior on machines
– Electric machine insulation
• Influence of power electronic on electric machines
• Summary

12
 Power electronic devices

13 Image source: YOLE Group, https://m.311project.com/zh-hant/node/3341381

 Power electronic devices
• Switching devices: BJT, MOSFET, GTO, IGCT, IGBT, SiC MOSFETs
▪ Switching speed has drastically increased from the thyristor family of
devices to the newest SiC devices
▪ Driving power for the devices has significantly reduced
▪ dv/dt of the newest SiC devices are notably higher

Comparision of switching characteristics of Si IGBT and SiC MOSFET

14 Reference: https://techweb.rohm.com/product/power-device/sic/sic-basic/6052/
 Impact of high dv/dt

• Pros
– SiC devices with dv/dt higher than 50V/ns are available
– Low switching loss in the converters
– High switching frequency is allowed
– High-efficiency converters
• Cons
– Parasitic capacitances get excited and lead to significant
common mode current
– Longer cable to the machine leads to reflections and voltage
spikes at the machine terminals
– Impose new requirements in machine manufacturing
▪ A tolerable dv/dt limit and allowable peak voltage at the terminals of
the machine are new figures of merit in the datasheet

15 Image source: Mohan, Undeland, and Robbins, «Power Electronics – Converters, Applications, and Design», JW & Sons
 Impact of high dv/dt – common mode
current and bearing currents
• 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2

𝑑𝑣
𝑖=𝐶
𝑑𝑡
Parasitic capacitances to the ground are
excited by the high dv/dt of the output voltage
from the converters
16 Reference: IEC 60034, and Annette Muetze, “Bearing currents in inverter fed AC-motors”, PhD Thesis, 2004.
Impact of high dv/dt – machine insulation

Output voltage of a 2-level converter. Typical first turn voltage ΔU

The dv/dt of can be as high as 50 kV/μs. (as a percentage of the line-
to-ground voltage) as a
function of du/dt

• Higher dv/dt deteriorates the insulation of the machine

• Partial discharge

17 Reference: IEC 60034 - Rotating electrical machines

 Electric machine Insulation

• New insulation material to adapt to higher dv/dt

– Nanocomposite materials for better dielectric and thermal
properties
– Elastomeric insulation materials, e.g., silicone rubber with better
thermal characteristics and mechanical flexibility
– New insulation coating materials, e.g., graphene-based coatings,
and self-healing coatings, to improve dielectric properties

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 Outline

• Introduction
• Applications
– Variable speed operation
– High-frequency machines
– Enabler for new applications
• Power electronics devices
– Types of devices
– Impact of switching behavior on machines
– Electric machine insulation
• Influence of power electronic converter on electric
machines
• Summary
19
 High-frequency electrical machines
Integrated motor converters for aircraft and vehicle applications

Electric vehicle motor (Tesla Model 3)

Aircraft propulsion motor
Max power: 220 kW, Max torque: 330 Nm
SAFRAN GENeUS 300
Max speed: 18000 rpm
300 kW, 550 – 800 VDC, 42000 rpm
200 – 420 VDC
Weight: 30kg
Weight: 90 kg

▪ High switching frequency drives make it possible to achieve higher rated frequency for electrical
machines
▪ SiC MOSFETs are used as switching devices in these converters.
20 Source: www.safran-group.com and https://stealthev.com/product/tesla-front-drive-unit/
 Electric machine parameters
6-pulse LCI fed synchronous machine 3-phase VSC fed Induction machine

In an LCI converter-fed machine, it is In a VSC-fed machine, it is desirable

desirable to have a smaller leakage to have a relatively larger leakage
inductance in the machine such that inductance in the machine such that
the current commutation is faster. the current ripple is smaller.

B. Singh, S. Singh and S. P. H. Chender, "Harmonics Mitigation in LCI-Fed Synchronous Motor Drives," in IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, vol. 25, no. 2,
pp. 369-380, June 2010
Martin T. Lange, “Influence of Voltage Source Pulse Width Modulated Switching and Induction Motor Circuit on Harmonic Current Content ” Wright State University,
2008.

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 Losses in electric machines
• The resistive loss in the machine • Eddy current and hysteresis loss
increases due to skin effect caused also increase
by high-frequency components in
the output voltage of the converter
P = R I2

22 Reference: Roy Nilsen, «Modeling, Identification and control of electrical machines», PhD Course Compendium, 2022.
 Summary
• Opportunities
➢ Faster switching devices →
low switching loss → high
efficiency converters
➢ Higher switching frequency
leads to high-rated
frequency machines
➢ Freedom in design of
electric machines
➢ Improved system efficiency
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• Challenges
– High dv/dt causes insulation
stress → new types of
insulation requirements
– Restriction in cable lengths
– dv/dt filter requirement
– EMI issues
– EMC filter requirements