Common Mode Voltage Elimination in Variable Speed Drives for Improved Electrical Safety.

Common-mode-voltage (CMV) is a well-known source of bearing currents and electromagnetic interference (EMI) in industrial applications. In industrial environments with impedance-earthed IT earthing system, such as underground mining, CMV is additionally associated with potentially undetectable fault currents, due to their diversion away from a protection circuit. This article proposes a variable speed drive (VSD) solution that generates practically zero CMV and removes alternative paths for the fault currents. The VSD topology utilized in this article is a standard two-level inverter with active front end. The article develops a control strategy such that it eliminates CMV, minimizes EMI, and optimizes harmonic distortion at the drive input and output. Experiments conducted in physically emulated industrial environment have confirmed that CMV and EMI are practically eliminated, and the earth fault protection is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]