Impact of PWM switching frequency on the radiated acoustic noise from a traction motor

The radiated acoustic noise from a traction motor at low speeds is dominated by the noise of electromagnetic origin. For a motor operated from pulse width modulated (PWM) converters, the switching frequency of the converter will have a large impact on the noise. The total harmonic distortion of the motor phase currents and thus also the exciting forces, will decrease with increasing switching frequency. Furthermore, changing the switching frequency will shift the frequencies of the exciting forces, hence have an influence on the coincidence with structural resonances of the motor. Tests have been performed on a traction motor and a decrease in sound pressure level with increasing switching frequency has been quantified and analyzed.

[1]  Michel Hecquet,et al.  Characterization and Reduction of Audible Magnetic Noise Due to PWM Supply in Induction Machines , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[2]  Ching Chuen Chan,et al.  Acoustic noise radiated by PWM-controllel induction machine drives , 2000, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[3]  Stefan Capitaneanu,et al.  On the acoustic noise radiated by PWM AC motor drives , 2003 .

[4]  R. Krishnan,et al.  Noise in electric machines: a review , 1998, Conference Record of 1998 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. Thirty-Third IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.98CH36242).

[5]  P. L. Alger.  The Magnetic Noise of Polyphase Induction Motors [includes discussion] , 1954, Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Part III: Power Apparatus and Systems.

[6]  Ioannis P. Tsoumas,et al.  Influence of the inverter's modulation technique on the audible noise of electric motors , 2012, 2012 XXth International Conference on Electrical Machines.

[7]  G. Narayanan,et al.  Variable-Switching Frequency PWM Technique for Induction Motor Drive to Spread Acoustic Noise Spectrum With Reduced Current Ripple , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[8]  A. C. Binojkumar,et al.  Acoustic Noise Characterization of Space-Vector Modulated Induction Motor Drives—An Experimental Approach , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[9]  Ines Lopez Arteaga,et al.  Vibro-acoustic modal model of a traction motor for railway applications , 2016 .

[10]  Ronnie Belmans,et al.  Audible noise and losses in variable speed induction motor drives with IGBT inverters-influence of the squirrel cage design and the switching frequency , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting.

[11]  Akiteru Ueda,et al.  Magnetic noise reduction technique for an AC motor driven by a PWM inverter , 1991 .

[12]  Frede Blaabjerg,et al.  Random pulse width modulation techniques for converter fed drive systems-a review , 1993, Conference Record of the 1993 IEEE Industry Applications Conference Twenty-Eighth IAS Annual Meeting.

[13]  R..  Noise in Induction Motors-Causes and Treatments , 2010 .

[14]  Joseph C. S. Lai,et al.  Sound power radiated from an inverter-driven induction motor: experimental investigation , 2002 .

[15]  Willy Geysen,et al.  Analysis of the Audible Noise of Three-Phase Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors Supplied by Inverters , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.