Implementation of a GaN Motor Inverter with an Observer-based Active Damped LC Filter

Maislinger, Franz; Ertl, H.; Stojcic, G.

doi:10.1109/iecon.2019.8927800

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Alternatively, the installation of a sine-wave LC output filter after the inverter stage fully protects the motor from any of the aforementioned dv/dt effects. In addition, it prevents any Low-Frequency (LF) CM resonances, which can be excited in the motor independently of the dv/dt [12], and advantageously eliminates any High-Frequency (HF) losses in the motor, which can contribute to an overall higher system efficiency [13]. The LC filter cutoff frequency can be selected relatively high for WBG devices-thanks to the high possible switching frequencies-which accordingly enables compact filter designs [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Rohner,

Gfrörer,

Niklaus

et al. 2024

IEEE Access

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Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs) are gaining popularity in industrial Variable Speed Drive (VSD) applications, thanks to their more compact realization and simpler installation. However, mission profiles of, e.g., servo applications, demand overload torques of two to three times the nominal value during several seconds, which is thermally challenging for the power electronics. Accordingly, high efficiency and power density of the inverter are of paramount importance for motor integration. Multi-Level Flying Capacitor inverters (ML-FCis) benefit from a reduced output filter volume and improved switching and onstate performance of low-voltage devices for increasing number of levels N , whereas the PCB overhead and gate drive volume increases. In this paper, the most power dense solution between a seven-level (7L) FCi with Si semiconductors and a three-level (3L) FCi with GaN semiconductors is evaluated. Thereby, a straightforward design procedure allows to dimension both FCis for 99% efficiency at nominal operation, while providing a high short-term overload torque (three times the nominal torque) also for low inverter output frequencies. Due to its slightly higher power density and greatly reduced complexity, a phase module of the 3L GaN FCi is realized as an IMD hardware demonstrator. A transient thermal model is employed to specify the feasible overload operating range, considering the limited heat spreading in the baseplate and parameter variations, e.g., from manufacturing tolerances. The experimental analysis of the demonstrator verifies an efficiency of 98.94% and the practically required overload capability.INDEX TERMS Integrated motor drive, variable speed drive, multi-level inverter, flying capacitor, overload operation, WBG power semiconductors. 1) Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs)Accordingly, a trend has developed towards drive systems with motor-integrated inverters (so-called Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs)), which largely eliminate the requirement of complex shielded wiring and thus allow a simple and compact

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Rohner,

Gfrörer,

Niklaus

et al. 2024

IEEE Access

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“…The predominant two-level three-phase inverters apply Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) voltages to the motor windings, which potentially lead to, e.g., bearing currents [8], High-Frequency (HF) harmonic losses [9], over-voltages between the coils [10] and Low-Frequency (LF) oscillations at the neutral point [11] inside the motor. These effects can be entirely avoided by inserting a full-sinewave LC output filter between switching stage and motor [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hardware-Based Comparative Analysis of Multilevel Inverter Topologies for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Rohner,

Gfrörer,

Niklaus

et al. 2023

IEEE Open J. Power Electron.

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With today's demand for increased industrial process automation a trend towards Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs) has evolved allowing a low complexity and compact installation of the drive system. Especially servo applications with high short-term overload requirements (e.g., three times the nominal current for several seconds) are a thermal challenge for the power electronics. Consequently, high efficiencies and power densities are key requirements of these motor-integrated Variable Speed Drives (VSDs). Multi-Level (ML) inverter topologies allow small LC output filter designs and benefit from utilizing low-voltage semiconductors with superior conduction and switching performance, and thus represent an interesting approach for future IMDs. In this work an experimental comparison between three different 800 V DC link supplied drive systems is presented, namely between a 3L Flying Capacitor Converter (3L-FCC) (employing 650 V GaN HEMTs), a 7L Flying Capacitor Converter (7L-FCC) (using 200 V Si MOSFETs) and its promising alternative, a 7L Hybrid Active Neutral-Point Clamped Converter (7L-HANPC) (using both, 650 V GaN HEMTs and 200 V Si MOSFETs). All three systems are realized as hardware demonstrators for the same specifications, i.e., for integration into a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with a case temperature of 90 • C, 7.5 kW nominal output power at >99% efficiency and a short-term overload capability of three times the nominal current for 3 s. Thereby, the efficiencies and the thermally critical overload capability are experimentally verified. Overall, the 3L-FCC shows the best performance trade-off with lowest complexity and/or highest reliability and minimal control effort.

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Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Rohner,

Gfrörer,

Bortis

et al. 2023

Preprint

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<p>Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs) are gaining popularity in industrial Variable Speed Drive (VSD) applications, thanks to their more compact realization and simpler installation. However, mission profiles of, e.g., servo applications, demand overload torques of two to three times the nominal value during several seconds, which is thermally challenging for the power electronics. Accordingly, high efficiency and power density of the inverter are of paramount importance for motor integration. Multi-Level Flying Capacitor inverters (ML-FCis) benefit from a reduced output filter volume and improved switching and onstate performance of low-voltage devices for increasing number of levels N, whereas the PCB overhead and gate drive volume increases. As shown in this paper, considering the performance of commercially available devices, the optimal number of levels for a 7.5kW IMD with an 800V DC link is N = 7 for Si and N = 3 for GaN semiconductor technology. A simple design procedure allows to dimension the 7L Si and 3L GaN FCi for 99% efficiency at nominal operation, while providing a high short-term overload torque (three times the nominal torque) also for low inverter output frequencies. A phase module of the 3L GaN FCi is realized as a hardware demonstrator of the IMD, whereby a detailed thermal model specifies its overload operating range, including, e.g., manufacturing tolerances of the setup and limited heatspreding in the power semiconductor cooling baseplate. The experimental analysis of the demonstrator verifies an efficiency of 98.94% and the practically required overload capability.</p>

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Implementation of a GaN Motor Inverter with an Observer-based Active Damped LC Filter

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Hardware-Based Comparative Analysis of Multilevel Inverter Topologies for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

Comparative Evaluation of Three-Phase Three-Level GaN and Seven-Level Si Flying Capacitor Inverters for Integrated Motor Drives Considering Overload Operation

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