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Multi-Level PWM core loss tester employing switch-mode power amplifiers

Colombo, Leonardo LU ; Stahre, Peter LU ; Reinap, Avo LU orcid ; Fyhr, Pontus LU and Alaküla, Mats LU orcid (2026) In Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 647.
Abstract
A soft magnetic core loss tester originally designed for sinusoidal flux excitation has been modified to enable multi-level PWM excitation. The setup is used to characterize an automotive-grade stator core under magnetic flux densities and excitation frequencies up to 1.4 T and 400 Hz respectively, as well as, switching frequencies between 4 and 16 kHz, with PWM voltage levels reaching up to seven. The experimental platform is programmed to emulate modular multi-level converters, providing insights into the formation and development of minor hysteresis loops across a wide range of PWM conditions. For each PWM level, the amplitude ratio and switching frequency are varied to offer a comprehensive view of the magnetic loss behavior under... (More)
A soft magnetic core loss tester originally designed for sinusoidal flux excitation has been modified to enable multi-level PWM excitation. The setup is used to characterize an automotive-grade stator core under magnetic flux densities and excitation frequencies up to 1.4 T and 400 Hz respectively, as well as, switching frequencies between 4 and 16 kHz, with PWM voltage levels reaching up to seven. The experimental platform is programmed to emulate modular multi-level converters, providing insights into the formation and development of minor hysteresis loops across a wide range of PWM conditions. For each PWM level, the amplitude ratio and switching frequency are varied to offer a comprehensive view of the magnetic loss behavior under realistic converter-driven excitations. The results reveal that increasing the number of PWM voltage levels significantly alters the hysteresis behavior, replacing minor loops with a ripple-like phenomenon and reducing core losses and harmonic distortion. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
volume
647
article number
174020
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105032727461
ISSN
0304-8853
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2ad61228-c963-488e-86fa-9c0e147a6cc7
alternative location
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304885326002118
date added to LUP
2026-03-23 14:27:32
date last changed
2026-03-24 04:00:40
@article{2ad61228-c963-488e-86fa-9c0e147a6cc7,
  abstract     = {{A soft magnetic core loss tester originally designed for sinusoidal flux excitation has been modified to enable multi-level PWM excitation. The setup is used to characterize an automotive-grade stator core under magnetic flux densities and excitation frequencies up to 1.4 T and 400 Hz respectively, as well as, switching frequencies between 4 and 16 kHz, with PWM voltage levels reaching up to seven. The experimental platform is programmed to emulate modular multi-level converters, providing insights into the formation and development of minor hysteresis loops across a wide range of PWM conditions. For each PWM level, the amplitude ratio and switching frequency are varied to offer a comprehensive view of the magnetic loss behavior under realistic converter-driven excitations. The results reveal that increasing the number of PWM voltage levels significantly alters the hysteresis behavior, replacing minor loops with a ripple-like phenomenon and reducing core losses and harmonic distortion.}},
  author       = {{Colombo, Leonardo and Stahre, Peter and Reinap, Avo and Fyhr, Pontus and Alaküla, Mats}},
  issn         = {{0304-8853}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials}},
  title        = {{Multi-Level PWM core loss tester employing switch-mode power amplifiers}},
  url          = {{https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304885326002118}},
  volume       = {{647}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}