New Industry Products

SMP Has Developed quotAll Modequot EMC Filters with HighFrequency Stability

October 01, 2019 by SMP

This article highlights the SMP development of "All Mode EMC" filters with high-frequency stability using composite materials.

SMP has developed "All Mode" EMC filters with high-frequency stability. The High-Frequency Composite Materials (HFCM) developed and manufactured by SMP are effective for frequencies up to the gigaHertz range and satisfy all of the requirements to which modern SiC and GaN applications are subject. The All-Mode design damps both differential mode and common mode noise. By combining HFCM and All-Mode technology it is possible to reduce the number of filter components needed in the system by about 50 percent. Among other advantages, this also means that common mode chokes or filters can be dispensed with.

 

SMP EMC Filter Converter Systems

Image courtesy of SMP.

 

EMC filters reduce interference currents and voltage spikes in power converter systems which are generated by parasitic effects and cyclic elements of the system. The material plays an important part in this, as SMP’s Managing Director Johannes Gemenetzis explains: “The target is to achieve a stable inductance at the working point over the entire frequency spectrum in order to maximize the interference suppression. Compared to the standard technologies which use materials such as ferrite, electrical steel sheets, and nanocrystalline ribbon, the All-Mode EMC filters are up to 40 percent lighter and reduce interference levels by as much as 40 dB[µV]."

Because they are made from magnetostriction-free materials, the All-Mode filters are noiseless. “Due to the stability of their inductance, we realize our EMC filters with a smaller inductance, whereby a high dynamic of the system is achieved,” says Johannes Gemenetzis. “The voltage spikes which occur periodically with the switching frequency of the inverter are immensely reduced.

So the life-time of the electric motors is much longer. The efficiency of the entire system is further improved due to very low losses of the materials. Moreover, fewer filter components are needed, so volume is reduced and the cost-effectiveness of the power electronic system as a whole is increased substantially. The fast switching SiC and GaN semiconductors place high demands on the magnetic materials. Decisions are based on materials! With the development and production of our own materials, we have solutions for every application."

The family-owned company with headquarters in Graben-Neudorf in Germany specializes in the development and manufacture of filter systems, inductive components, and magnetically soft molded parts. The portfolio of components produced by the company is designed to handle currents up to 2000 A, for special applications up to 3000 A, and frequencies up to the gigaHertz range. The materials have a high saturation induction of up to 2 Tesla. The components are produced with dimensions from 19 mm to 300 mm and weights from 0.05 kg to 130 kg. The filter systems and inductive components are used in power electronics, automation and drive technology applications for industries such as electromobility, railway, and marine engineering, medical technology, aerospace and renewable as well as conventional power generation.

 

SMP at SPS 2019:

SPS 2019 in Nuremberg, Germany, from 26 to 28 November 2019: Hall 3 Stand 360

 

About SMP

SMP Sintermetalle Prometheus GmbH & Co KG was founded in 1982 by Dr.-Ing. Vasilios Gemenetzis.

In Graben-Neudorf (Baden) near Karlsruhe SMP produces inductive components, filter systems, cores and molded parts on the basis of soft magnetic materials. The components are used in different power electronic applications. SMP produces nearly 100 % of the products customized. The products are sold with an export rate of over 50 % worldwide.

Over the years SMP has become one of the most important suppliers for inductive components with soft magnetic materials in industrial applications on the world market.

The change of generations is already done. Both sons of the company's founder are involved in the family business for a couple of years now and completed their studies in electrical engineering and information technology with a master's degree at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Two production locations in Germany and Austria with seven isolated halls regarding fire safety with an area of more than 14.000 m² secure reliable supply and production.