The subject of this research project, funded by HITACHI (Yokohama Research Laboratory), is the modeling of conducted electromagnetic emission (CE) of inverters for automotive applications (e.g., power systems used in hybrid and pure electric vehicles) and attached power cables, for frequencies up to 100 MHz.
Electric drive systems represent efficient sources of electromagnetic disturbances which may seriously jeopardize vehicle on-board communications.
The availability of prediction models able to assess potential problems at early-design stages is a key ingredient for the integration of new electrical drive systems with (a) conventional electrical systems, and (b) data-handling subsystems.
This is particularly true for the inverter, which is the main source of electromagnetic noise in power systems of hybrid and electric vehicles. The proposed CE model accounts for high-frequency parasitics, as well as mode propagation and mixing due to the cable harnesses. In particular, a behavioral modeling technique was developed for the description of inverters acting as CE sources. Model parameters are extracted from measurement data obtained by an ad-hoc experimental procedure. Finally, multi-conductor transmission line modeling is used to identify propagation modes (common and differential) of the CE current flowing along the three-phase shielded cables interconnecting the inverter with the motor.