Inverter-based motor drive systems: An overview from the electromagnetic compatibility perspective

The pulses of the PWM waveform synthesized by inverters present ultra-fast variations, whose harmonic components extend up to the MHz range. Their application on the cable that connects the converter to the motor results in a number of undesirable phenomena, which go from problems of electromagnetic interference to physical damage of the motor. The aim of the present study is to discuss and clarify such problems, illustrating them through several measurements performed in both laboratory and the field, obtained over the years of work performed by this research group. Innovative and promising solutions for their attenuation are also presented.