Conducted EMI in Four-Quadrant AC Drive System

Adam Kempski, Robert Smolenski, Ryszard Strzelecki

UNIVERSITY OF ZIELONA GORA
Ul. Podgorna 50
Zielona Gora, Poland
(0-68) 328 23 42 / (0-68) 325 46 15
A.Kempski@iee.uz.zgora.pl

Keywords
Adjustable speed drives, EMC/EMI.

Abstract
In this paper we have studied the spreading of conducted EMI noises on both sides of a four-quadrant
frequency converter. Measurements have been done in both the time and the frequency domains.
Measurements have allowed us to determine the real paths of EMI noises that is essential for the
selection of interference elimination methods.

Introduction
The development of advanced power electronic switching devices has enabled introducing a new
modern drive structure for the induction motor supply such as Four-Quadrant AC Drives, which are
increasingly being used as inverters for induction motors. These drives combine a line braking with
ultimate AC motor performances. The main circuit of these drives is comprised of two converters.
The line side converter is an active IGBT rectifier permitting two-way energy flow and allows four-
quadrant operation. The motor side inverter produces and controls the AC power for the motor, Fig.1.

Fig.1. Main circuit diagram of the 4-quadrant inverter drive system.

The topology of a 4-quadrant drive allows an active modulation to reduce harmonic overtones, and
DTC (direct torque control) ensures quick responses to load and line voltage changes.
The many benefits of 4-quadrant AC drive system such as an efficient speed control, a high dynamic
response combined with the energy savings are counterbalanced by disadvantages caused by
ElectroMagnetic Interferences (EMI). Recently, designers and users have become very concerned with
EMI produced by such systems, since these are now subjected to international regulations concerning
the ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and increasing demands for power quality. Due to fast
switching of the active rectifier on the line side and stringent limits included in the international
standard EN 61800 - 3 (EMC product standard for PDS), exacerbated by annex A11 for 2nd
environment it is very important in case of a 4-quadrant AC drives.

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In this paper we have studied a spreading of conducted EMI noises on both sides of a four-quadrant
frequency converter. Measurements have been done in both the time and the frequency domains.

Experimental arrangement
Measurements have been done in the system presented in the Fig.2.

Fig.2. Experimental arrangement.

We have tested a 2-pole, 10 kW induction motor fed by a typical industrial four-quadrant inverter
supplied via LISN. All measurements have been done using current probes with a linear frequency
range up to 50 MHz. The measuring points are depicted in the Fig.2.

Measurements in time domain

Measurements in the time domain have been designed mainly for the establishing the real paths of
common mode noises on the both sides (line and motor) of the 4-quadrant inverter. The origin of a
common mode conducted EMI is the common mode voltage source, which inevitably exists in the
system as the result of temporary electrical asymmetry in its neutral point. This asymmetry is caused
by a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) in a three-phase power converter. The common mode (CM)
voltage in 3-phase “symmetrical” circuits is defined as the one third of the sum of phase voltages.
There are two CM voltage sources in a four-quadrant AC drive system – first on the line side of the
converter and second on the motor side.
Fig.3. shows the CM current on the line side of the converter.

Fig.3. Common mode current in line PE wire.

This current emerges as a result of transistor switching in the active rectifier. Due to a high du/dt value
of the CM voltage at the output of the rectifier this current flows mainly through heat-sink to DC-link
capacitance [1]. As we can see in Fig.3. the CM currents have damped oscillations forms with
amplitudes up to 10 A and the frequency about 70kHz. The RMS value of this current can exceeds 1 A
(1.236 A in Fig.3.). The CM current on its way back to the CM source flows through impedances of

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mains and the input filter and causes voltage drops on them. The CM voltage on the input terminals of
the four-quadrant converter is the result of superimposing the voltage drops created by the active
rectifier onto the zero voltage in the neutral point of mains. Fig.4. shows the phase voltages and the
common mode voltage on the line side of the converter.

Fig.4. Creation of the common mode voltage at the line-side converter terminals.

The voltage drops, which are visible in phase voltage waveforms, are identical in each phase. It
confirms the common mode nature of this phenomenon. The level of the CM voltage is relatively low.
Fig.5. shows the phase voltages and the CM voltage on the motor side of the inverter.

Fig.5. Creation of the common mode voltage at the motor-side converter terminals.

Because of a floating neutral point on the motor side of the inverter, the voltages have reached higher
amplitudes (approximately equal to DC-link voltage). In the CM voltage waveform we can see “stairs”
resulting from switching instants and oscillations at the frequency of the line side CM current.

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Fast changes of the common mode voltage excite parasitic capacitive couplings [2-5], which
inherently exist inside the load system (motor and cables). The resulting CM current is shown in the
Fig.6.

Fig.6. Common mode current in motor PE wire.

In the CM current waveform we can identify at least three mode of oscillation: the strongly damped
oscillation at the frequency about 4 MHz, the high frequency oscillation of 1,5 MHz and the
oscillation at the frequency of the line side CM current. The amplitude of the CM current can reach a
value about 4 A.
The low frequency parts of CM currents on both sides of the inverter are not independent. Therefore,
the “virtual grounding point” has been created to determine the real CM current paths in the system, as
it has been shown in Fig.2. The experimental results are presented in Fig.7. In the analysis we have
taken into consideration both the amplitude and the phase of the currents.

Fig.7. Passage of common mode currents through “virtual grounding point”.

The CM current in the line PE is the sum of the low frequency components of the CM current in the
motor PE and the inverter PE current. It indicates that the source of this low frequency component is
on the line side of the converter. Both higher frequency components almost completely close in circuit
of the load side of the inverter (it especially concerns the highest frequency part). As we have proved

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in our earlier works [6], the main return path for this part of the current leads through the heat sink-to-
DC link capacitance. Arrows in Fig.2 depict the real CM currents paths in the system.
The role of heat-sink to DC-link capacitance is essential both for creating and for conducting of CM
noises in PWM inverter drives. This dual role is evident in the four-quadrant AC drive system with an
active line rectifier. For frequency converters with 6-pulse diode bridge rectifier we have observed a
different manner of a spreading of the interference over the system. In this case, there is only one
source of CM voltage (on motor side of the converter). The measurements have been done in drive,
which includes a built-in EMI choke in the intermediate circuit and snubber capacitors between DC-
link and heat-sink. Fig.8. shows CM currents on the line and motor side of this frequency converter.

Fig.8. Common mode currents in drive system with converter with diode rectifier (experimental
result).

The motor side CM current on its way back to its source causes a voltage drop across the heat-sink to
DC-link capacitance. Mainly this voltage drop forces CM current flow on the line side. In the
conduction state of diodes of the rectifier, this voltage drop produces an oscillation of a small
amplitude and a relatively low frequency in a closed loop consisting of DC-link-to-heat sink
capacitance and resultant inductance of the supply side of the converter.
This interpretation has been confirmed with simulations using the model of the system [6]. Fig.9.
shows results of simulation.

Fig.9. Common mode currents in drive system with converter with diode rectifier (simulation).

Measurements in frequency domain

Fig.10. shows the measurements which have been done in the system consisting of LISN and EMI
receiver ESCS-30, in standard frequency ranges (CISPR-16) for conducted emissions [7].

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Fig.10. Conducted EMI spectrum.

In the EMI spectrum we can identify all of the oscillation modes of CM current waveforms. Note, that
the highest frequency component is relatively low because a bigger part of this component does not
flow through the measuring impedance of the LISN. In the low frequency part of the spectrum we
have observed repeatable changes at frequency 40 kHz, 80 kHz, … We have identified them with the
time of the synchronized impulse of transistors switching (25µs) and its harmonics.

Conclusions
- The level of EMI noises produced by a 4-quadrant inverter drive system is relatively high in the
context of international standard EN 61800-3 (EMC Product Standard for PDS).
- The main source of EMI noises is located on the line side of the converter.
- The measurements show that only part of the high frequency component of a CM current in the
motor PE wire is visible in the frequency domain spectrum. As we have proved in our earlier works,
the main return path for this part of the current leads through the heat sink-to-DC link capacitance. It
means that this component closes mainly in the load side of the system and only a small part of this
current flows through LISN.
- The measurements in the time domain complementary to the frequency domain are very useful for
determining real paths of EMI noises and, consequently, for the selection of the method of the
interference elimination.

Acknowledgements
This work has been supported by the Polish Committee for Scientific Research under Grant
8T10A 034 21.

References
[1] Tihanyi L.: Electromagnetic Compatibility in Power Electronics, Butterworth-Heinemann 1995, ISBN:
0 7803 0416 0.
[2] Skibinski, G., Kerkman, R. J., Schlegel D.: EMI Emission of Modern PWM AC Drives, IEEE Industry
Applications Magazine, November/December 1999 pp.47-79.
[3] Li Ran, Gokani S., Clare J., Bradley K. J., Christopoulos C.: Conducted Electromagnetic Emission in
Induction Motor Drive System Part I: Time Domain Analysis and Identification of Dominant Modes, IEEE
Trans. on Power Electronics, vol. 13, No. 4, July 1998 pp.757-765.
[4] Li Ran, Gokani S., Clare J., Bradley K. J., Christopoulos C.: Conducted Electromagnetic Emission in
Induction Motor Drive System Part II: Frequency Domain Models, IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, vol.
13, No. 4, July 1998 pp.768-776.
[5] Ogasawara S., Akagi H.: Analysis and Reduction of EMI Conducted by a PWM Inverter-Fed AC Motor Drive
System Having Long Power Cables, PESC 2000, pp. 928-933.
[6] Kempski A., Smolenski R., Strzelecki R.: Common Mode Current Paths and Their Modeling in PWM
Inverter Fed Drives, IEEE 33rd PESC, Cairns, Australia, 2002 to be published.
[7] Williams T., Armstrong K.: EMC for Systems and Instalations, Newnes 2000, ISBN: 0 7506 4167 3.

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