Modeling of an EMC test-bench for conducted emissions in solid state applications

In the area of EMC performance of electric motor drives, research is mainly focused on the EMC performance of inverter based drives. However, in most instances the soft starter is still an appropriate choice for motor control especially when accurate speed control of the load is not a specific requirement. The EMI generation of these converters has not been given the required importance, with only a few publications regarding this issue available in the last decades. A simulation model that considers the operation of solid state devices in an EMC conducted emission measurement laboratory environment was developed. The model was implemented in MATLAB® and Simulink® using a time domain approach. Models for the LISN, EMI receiver, power cables, thyristor power modules and induction motor load were developed and implemented. These models were developed so as to reflect the actual physics of the components and, where possible, model parameters were obtained through analysis of the geometry of the system through simplifications of the surrounding environment. The simulation was then used to gain insight on the EMI generation mechanisms of the solid state system.