Investigation of the Current Ripple caused by the Main Inverter in the High Voltage DC Bus of Electric Vehicles

Abstract:
Electric vehicles (EVs) require the main inverter to be cost-efficient, to have low losses and to operate reliably. As the inverter is mechanically and electrically coupled to the traction battery and the drive train, it is crucial to assure its electromagnetic compliance (EMC). Due to the semiconductor switching, the inverter produces a current ripple which propagates through the high voltage DC bus to the traction battery and can accelerate its aging. This paper presents a simulation model to estimate the current ripple on the high voltage DC bus. Based on a parameter study, the most critical operation points are derived and analysed in the frequency domain.