Project PEPA

Power electronic systems generate common-mode voltages in the power supply network due to system conditions. These common-mode voltages cause currents in the frequency range of 150 Hz to several tens of kHz on protective conductors (PE conductors) and equipotential bonding conductors (PA). These PE/PA currents have many undesirable effects. The main goal of the PEPA project is to systematically describe the generation, propagation, and coupling of PE/PA currents through measurements and simulation methods, and to develop methods to influence and reduce them selectively.

Within this project, the issue of PE/PA currents has been comprehensively investigated for the first time. The causes of PE/PA currents, as well as their propagation and coupling paths in a drive system, have been systematically examined and understood. For this purpose, a reference system is defined based on measurements on real installations.

The measurement results are verified using a developed simulation environment. In the simulation environment, all relevant components such as power electronic systems including their filters, cables, electrical machines, transformers, etc., are modeled with respect to their common-mode behavior. This simulation environment also allows for predicting PE/PA currents when changing system parameters or employing alternative filter concepts. Improvements to filter circuits and the use of new magnetic materials have been investigated to suppress PE/PA currents. Furthermore, the acquired results have already been summarized and presented in the nomination committees K226 and K623.

Further documents for download can be found in the right column.

The following PEPA 2 project see the PEPA 2 page