Modelling the HF behaviour of a three-phase winding under PWM excitation

The emergence of electric vehicles in the automotive market is increasingly pushing manufacturers to design more efficient and low-cost electric drive chains. These objectives allow to increase autonomy and to be competitive in the automotive market. Thus, designing electrical components with high power and torque densities remains a constant challenge. 
Current trends consist of to increase the DC bus voltage as well as the use of new materials of semiconductors based on a wide -band gap (SiC, or GaN). However, these new constraints impose steep -fronted voltage with high dV/dt on the winding of the electrical machine, which can cause rapid electrical aging if the Partial Discharges (PD) inception voltage is reached or exceeded at any point in the winding. The most critical area of the Electrical Insulation System (EIS) remains the inter-turn insulation because of its low thickness. 
The objective of this thesis is a continuation of current research work. An HF model of a complete phase has already been developed and experimentally validated.
The thesis has two parts, in experimental part, the PHD student will have the mission to:
•    Extend this approach to a complete machine - PWM inverter, considering the power cable.
•    Carry out a sensitivity study on the voltage distribution in the winding in the case of a three-phase PWM power supply.

Keywords: electric machines, , wide gap converter, windings, PWM excitation behaviour,  inter-turn voltage, overvoltage, partial discharges, reliability.

• Academic supervisor    Professor Stéphane DUCHESNE, LSEE, Artois University, stephane.duchesne@univ-artois.fr
• Doctoral School    « Sciences pour l'ingénieur de Lille (ED072) », http://edspi.univ-lille1.fr
• IFPEN supervisor    Doctor Abdenour ABDELLI, Research engineer
• PhD location    IFPEN, Rueil-Malmaison, France 
• Duration and start date    3 years, starting in the  fourth quarter of 2025
• Employer    IFPEN, Rueil-Malmaison, France.
• Academic requirements    MSc in electrical engineering
• Language requirements    Fluency in French and English

To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to the IFPEN supervisor indicated here below.