Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach

This study focuses on identifying the optimal switching frequency for silicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drives across a wide range of operating conditions using a loss minimization strategy. The results are then compared with those of traditional silicon-insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) syst...

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Main Authors: Sepideh Amirpour, Sima Soltanipour, Torbjorn Thiringer, Pranav Katta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11002373/
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author Sepideh Amirpour
Sima Soltanipour
Torbjorn Thiringer
Pranav Katta
author_facet Sepideh Amirpour
Sima Soltanipour
Torbjorn Thiringer
Pranav Katta
author_sort Sepideh Amirpour
collection DOAJ
description This study focuses on identifying the optimal switching frequency for silicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drives across a wide range of operating conditions using a loss minimization strategy. The results are then compared with those of traditional silicon-insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) systems. The approach involves conducting a comprehensive real-time finite element method (FEM) analysis of losses induced by pulsewidth modulation (PWM) voltages in an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine, compared to conventional sinusoidal current excitation feeding. The analysis integrates electromagnetic field simulations in Ansys Maxwell with the drive system control algorithm in Ansys Twin Builder, ensuring an accurate representation of their interactions. In addition, a method utilizing speed-adaptive core loss coefficients, which account for variable frequencies, is implemented for a more precise core loss estimation. The results reveal a notable discrepancy of up to 80<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> in the core loss calculations when using speed-adaptive coefficients versus fixed coefficients. By employing the real-time coupled simulations, the higher switching capabilities of SiC <sc>mosfet</sc>s could be effectively realized to optimize the PWM frequency over a broader range (10&#x2013;50 kHz), particularly in the main drive region of electric vehicles, with differences of up to 20 kHz compared to IGBT systems. Furthermore, applying the proposed optimal PWM frequency profile in the worldwide harmonized light vehicle test cycle leads to a reduction of up to 22<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> in accumulated energy losses in the SiC motor drive compared to its IGBT counterpart.
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spelling doaj-art-25a2573937f74a0998b0d2e9d307b8bc2025-08-20T03:07:27ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society2644-12842025-01-01688389710.1109/OJIES.2025.356934911002373Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction ApproachSepideh Amirpour0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6264-4168Sima Soltanipour1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6814-1889Torbjorn Thiringer2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5777-1242Pranav Katta3https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7574-0837ZEEKR Technology Europe, Gothenburg, SwedenVolvo Cars Corporations, Gothenburg, SwedenChalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SwedenVolvo Cars Corporations, Gothenburg, SwedenThis study focuses on identifying the optimal switching frequency for silicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drives across a wide range of operating conditions using a loss minimization strategy. The results are then compared with those of traditional silicon-insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) systems. The approach involves conducting a comprehensive real-time finite element method (FEM) analysis of losses induced by pulsewidth modulation (PWM) voltages in an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine, compared to conventional sinusoidal current excitation feeding. The analysis integrates electromagnetic field simulations in Ansys Maxwell with the drive system control algorithm in Ansys Twin Builder, ensuring an accurate representation of their interactions. In addition, a method utilizing speed-adaptive core loss coefficients, which account for variable frequencies, is implemented for a more precise core loss estimation. The results reveal a notable discrepancy of up to 80<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> in the core loss calculations when using speed-adaptive coefficients versus fixed coefficients. By employing the real-time coupled simulations, the higher switching capabilities of SiC <sc>mosfet</sc>s could be effectively realized to optimize the PWM frequency over a broader range (10&#x2013;50 kHz), particularly in the main drive region of electric vehicles, with differences of up to 20 kHz compared to IGBT systems. Furthermore, applying the proposed optimal PWM frequency profile in the worldwide harmonized light vehicle test cycle leads to a reduction of up to 22<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> in accumulated energy losses in the SiC motor drive compared to its IGBT counterpart.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11002373/Core losseselectrified vehiclesenergy efficiencysilicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drivesvoltage-source inverters (VSI)variable switching frequency
spellingShingle Sepideh Amirpour
Sima Soltanipour
Torbjorn Thiringer
Pranav Katta
Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society
Core losses
electrified vehicles
energy efficiency
silicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drives
voltage-source inverters (VSI)
variable switching frequency
title Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
title_full Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
title_fullStr Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
title_full_unstemmed Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
title_short Adaptive Determination of Optimum Switching Frequency in SiC-PWM-Based Motor Drives: A Speed-Dependent Core Loss Correction Approach
title_sort adaptive determination of optimum switching frequency in sic pwm based motor drives a speed dependent core loss correction approach
topic Core losses
electrified vehicles
energy efficiency
silicon-carbide (SiC)-based motor drives
voltage-source inverters (VSI)
variable switching frequency
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11002373/
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AT simasoltanipour adaptivedeterminationofoptimumswitchingfrequencyinsicpwmbasedmotordrivesaspeeddependentcorelosscorrectionapproach
AT torbjornthiringer adaptivedeterminationofoptimumswitchingfrequencyinsicpwmbasedmotordrivesaspeeddependentcorelosscorrectionapproach
AT pranavkatta adaptivedeterminationofoptimumswitchingfrequencyinsicpwmbasedmotordrivesaspeeddependentcorelosscorrectionapproach