Chaos-Based Generation of PWM-Like Signals for Low-EMI Induction Motor Drives: Analysis and Experimental Results

The reduction of undesired electromagnetic emissions in switched power converters is a hot topic. Here, we comment on a chaos-based methodology to synthesize PWM-like signals for controlling the drives of induction motors. The proposed approach reduces drastically the interference due to the drive-motor ensemble, and does not significantly alter the motor performance. The benefit is a ∼ 20 dB reduction in the peak of the emitted power density spectrum. This result is herein confirmed three times: first with an analytical approach based on approximations whose impact is progressively reduced; then by means of simulation; finally by laboratory testing of a working prototype.