EMI Filter Robustness in Three-Level Active Neutral-Point-Clamped Inverter

The electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter is a critical component for power electronics to conform with the EMI standards, ensuring electromagnetic compatibility and a safe operating environment. Yet, its attenuation capability can shift during the long-term operating period due to the passive componentsx2019; degradation. A poorly designed EMI filter may fail to meet the standardsx2019; specifications and affect the robustness, leading to the converter level fault and even failure. This article proposes a robustness assessment procedure of an EMI filter for a three-level active neutral-point-clamped (3L-ANPC) inverter. The mission profile is used to emulate the operating environment. The nonlinear degradations of film capacitors and nanocrystalline core chokes are modeled. Furthermore, the Monte-Carlo-based robustness assessment procedure is presented. It considers the uncertainties of model parameters and uses the filter attenuation capability as the failure criteria. Finally, an EMI filter for a 15-kW 3L-ANPC inverter is used as the demonstration and experimental verification of the evaluation procedure. The B10 lifetime of the EMI filter is obtained, which serves as a first step of the inverter-system-level EMI robustness evaluation and feedback for the robustness-oriented EMI filter design.

Automated summary

This article proposes a robustness assessment procedure for evaluating the stability of the EMI filter during long-term operation. By using mission profile to emulate the operating environment, the nonlinear degradation models of passive components are established, and the uncertainty of model parameters is considered using the Monte Carlo method. Finally, the effectiveness of the evaluation procedure is demonstrated through experiments.