Aug 7, 2023 -- In the 2023 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS) held in Washington DC recently, Dr. He gave a joint tutorial on Reflected Waves and Surge Overvoltage of Electric Machines Fed by Fast-Switching WBG Power Converters, collaborating with Dr. Behrooz Mirafzal from Kansas State University.
Wide bandgap (WBG) switches are very beneficial in improving power density and efficiency of motor drives, but the fast-switching behavior induces reflected surge overvoltage which poses new challenges on the dielectric insulation of motor stator windings, especially for MVDC and HVDC systems. In this tutorial, the fundamental principle of reflected waves and surge overvoltage were reviewed, and the pros and cons of the existing and new solutions were discussed.
