Motor shaft voltages and bearing currents and their reduction in multilevel medium-voltage PWM voltage-source-inverter drive applications

This paper presents test results on problems and solutions of motor shaft voltages and bearing currents in medium-voltage pulsewidth modulated (PWM) drive systems. Tests show that multilevel medium-voltage PWM voltage-source inverter drives can cause motor bearing currents, similar to a low-voltage PWM drives, even with one motor bearing insulated. Common-mode voltages generated as a result of PWM switching are observed on motor windings and capacitively coupled to the motor shaft, leading to bearing currents. Potential solutions, including altering common-mode circuitry, changing the grounding scheme, providing common-mode filtering, and grounding the motor shaft, are investigated. Test results on their effectiveness are presented.