| Abstract |
With the introduction of new, fast switching semiconductors (IGBT) in modern inverter technology
some years ago, several authors reported an increase in premature motor bearing failure due to bearing
currents. As a result, the problem of bearing currents and shaft voltages in inverter drives became
of major interest in research and industrial application. A lot of theoretical and experimental examinations
have been made to clear the problem, but many aspects are still under discussion. The present
paper summarizes the theoretical background and shows numerous experimental results with lowand
high-voltage ac drives. Some simulations show that the new phenomena relate to the design and
configuration of the whole drive, not only of the motor itself. Actual measures against bearing currents
and future strategies are summarized. |
