Overvoltages in inverter fed induction machines using high frequency power electronic components

Inverter supplied induction motors have become common. One of the tendencies that can be observed over the years, is that the switching frequencies of the power electronic components increase. This allows the manufacturers to build more compact inverters with an improved sinusoidal wave shape of the output voltage and/or current. The increase in the switching frequency is made possible by the progress made in the domain of the switching devices. For the user of such inverters, the advantage would be an improved efficiency of the motor and a lower audible noise level. One of the unexpected drawbacks of this new generation of inverters is that considerable overvoltages appear when supplying a motor with a long cable. These voltage peaks may damage the insulation of the motor. Measurements and calculations were carried out to understand the origin of this problem