Abstract
Bearing voltages and corresponding currents in electric machines driven by pulse width modulation (PWM) converters with fast switching and high dv/dt can cause premature bearing failures. This paper evaluates the bearing voltage reduction by using insulated shafts and bearings. An equivalent circuit representation of electric machines taking into account high-frequency effects is developed to show the production mechanism of bearing voltage, based on which simulations are performed with detailed finite element models for transient and simplified equivalent circuit for steady-state analysis. The steady-state equivalent circuit is then calibrated, by combined numerical calculations and experimental measurements, and used to predict the bearing voltage for various scenarios, proving the effectiveness of using insulated shaft and bearings in reducing the steady-state bearing voltage.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-2020
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE44975.2020.9235474
Funding Information
The support of Regal Beloit Corporation, University of Kentucky, the L. Stanley Pigman Endowment, and ANSYS Inc., is gratefully acknowledged.
Repository Citation
Han, Peng; Heins, Greg; Patterson, Dean; Theile, Mark; and Ionel, Dan M., "Evaluation of Bearing Voltage Reduction in Electric Machines by Using Insulated Shaft and Bearings" (2020). Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications. 55.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/peik_facpub/55
Notes/Citation Information
Published in 2020 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).
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The document available for download is the authors’ manuscript accepted for publication. The final published version is copyrighted by IEEE and available as: P. Han, G. Heins, D. Patterson, M. Thiele, and D.M. Ionel, “Evaluation of bearing voltage reduction in electric machines by using insulated shaft and bearings,” 2020 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), Detroit, MI, Oct. 11-15, 2020, pp. 5584-5589, doi: 10.1109/ECCE44975.2020.9235474.