Impact of Current Ripple Reduction Using High Switching Frequencies on PMSM Efficiency

Abstract:
With the advent of WBG technologies (SiC, GaN) as well as switching optimized Si, the penalty for increased switching frequencies is less significant opening up new possibilities for highly efficient motor drives. This paper discusses the impact of high switching frequencies on motor efficiency, based on experiments conducted on a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) under various load and speed conditions. The results show a benefit of going to higher switching frequencies across various operating points. Additionally, this paper presents a methodology based on FEM (Finite Element Method) to help understand the mechanism of losses in the motor.