PWM Impact on CM Noise and AC CM Choke for Variable-Speed Motor Drives

This paper analyzes pulsewidth modulation (PWM) methods' impact on the motor drives' common-mode (CM) noise current and CM choke saturation. The modulation in the motor drive terminals serves as the CM noise source. A few improved PWM methods could reduce the CM voltage amplitude in comparison with the conventional space vector PWM and discontinuous PWM. However, some harmonics of the improved PWM methods increase when considering the spectrum. Because the CM loop of the motor drive system is an L - R - C circuit which has its resonant frequency, the CM noise current is highly influenced by the noise near the resonant frequency. This paper studies the CM current with different PWM methods and claims that the design of PWM methods and switching frequency should be together with the CM loop impedance. Reduced CM voltage does not mean reduced CM current. With a CM choke to attenuate the CM noise, the choke size is determined by the CM volt-seconds on the choke. This paper studies the general case and the worst case of the choke size. The conclusions are supported by simulation and experimental results.