Modular Approach for Characterizing and Modeling Conducted EMI Emissions in Power Converters

With the development of power electronics, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues have become more and more important for both power converter designers and customers. This dissertation studies EMI noise emission characterization and modeling in power converters.

A modular-terminal-behavioral (MTB) equivalent EMI noise source modeling approach is proposed. This work is the first to systematically develop a 3-terminal EMI noise source model for a switching phase-leg device module. Each module is modeled as pairs of equivalent noise current sources and source impedances. Although the proposed MTB modeling approach applies the linear circuit theory to a semiconductor switching device, which exhibits nonlinear behavior during switching transients, the analysis and experiments show that the nonlinearity has negligible practical effect on the modeling methodology. The validation range of the modeling methodology has been analyzed.

One of the differences between the proposed MTB model and the other state-of-the-art models is that the MTB model characterizes and predicts the CM and DM noise simultaneously. The inseparable high-frequency CM and DM noise characteristics contributed by the source impedance and propagation path are analyzed. A comprehensive evaluation of different EMI noise source modeling approaches according to the criteria of accuracy, feasibility and generality has been presented. Results show that the MTB modeling approach is more accurate, feasible and general than other approaches.

The modular and terminal characteristics of the MTB noise source model are verified in two more complicated cases. One example is the application of the MTB equivalent source model in a half-bridge AC converter with variable switching conditions. Although the MTB model is derived under a certain operating condition, the models under different conditions can be combined together to predict the EMI noise for the converter with variable switching conditions. Another example is the application of the MTB equivalent source model in multi-phase-leg converters. The EMI noise of a full-bridge converter is predicted based on the MTB equivalent source model of one phase-leg module. The implementation procedures and results for both applications are verified by the experiment. The applicability of the MTB model in different type of converters is discussed.

Based on the MTB model, EMI noise management is explored. The parametric study based on the MTB model is demonstrated by selecting DC-link decoupling capacitors for voltage source converter (VSC). The EMI effect of a decoupling capacitor for a device s safe operation is analyzed, and this analysis shows the terminal characteristics of the MTB model. Both the EMI and voltage overshoot are predicted by the MTB model. A completed converter-level EMI model can be derived based on the noise source model and propagation path model. This model makes it possible to optimize the EMI filter design and study the EMI noise interactions between converters in a power conversion system.