EMC Laboratory

Reliable operation, maximum availability without downtime, satisfied users and no complaints - that is the goal of every device manufacturer and developer. One of the prerequisites for this is meeting the requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). It ensures the trouble-free operation of devices and systems working alongside and with each other in an electromagnetic environment that is becoming increasingly challenging as the density of applications increases.

TDK is your comprehensive partner in all areas of electromagnetic compatibility

EMC services in the field of electromagnetic emission and immunity
Not only tests, but solutions for your requirements
Main focus: Industry, automotive, power electronics

Competence at the current state of the art, cooperation in standardization
60 years EMC service provider in Regensburg, accredited test laboratory since 1994
TDK product portfolio for ensuring electromagnetic compatibility

Services

Conducted and radiated emission

Conducted and radiated immunity

Laboratory accreditation

EMC solutions, consulting, training

Automotive

High functional density, communication and sensor technology in a very confined space alongside low-loss power electronics with a broad spectrum of interference and the highest reliability and comfort requirements. The challenges for electromagnetic compatibility have once again increased enormously with electromobility.

Industry

Reliable availability and remote monitoring of energy-efficient, compact power electronic systems are the constraints of modern industrial applications. Sensor technology, communication and fast switching of high voltages and currents the challenges for electromagnetic compatibility.

Lab News

HiEFFICIENT: EU Research Project on Advanced WBG Power Electronics for the Electromobility

Electromagnetic Compatibility is a key topic for using highly integrated wide-bandgap (WBG) technology for efficient and reliable power electronics in electromobility applications. TDK is engaged therefore in the EU research project HiEFFICIENT with its EMC laboratory in Regensburg and works as a partner on EMC solutions for drivetrain applications and onboard chargers.

IEC/EN 61000-4-39: Immunity to radiated fields in close proximity

The increasing density of radio devices in industrial applications is a particular challenge for electromagnetic compatibility and system reliability. For this purpose, a special method was developed normatively and has been used in the TDK EMC laboratory in Regensburg since January 2023. Accreditation is planned for 2024.

Seminars and Conferences

Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit - Grundlagen

Regensburg, Germany, September 10 - 12, 2024

Lectures:

Session EMV II

1. Sicherstellung der EMV durch Filterung

2. Sicherstellung der EMV durch Schirmung

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 8:30 am

Language: German

Speaker: Christian Paulwitz, Head of EMC Laboratory, TDK Electronics AG, Regensburg

Location: Hansa Apart-Hotel, Friedenstraße 7, 93051 Regensburg

Promoters' website

EMC basics

Mounting instructions

Specify the interference sources (with emissions) and disturbed equipment (electrical equipment or components with limited susceptibility).
Assign the interference sources and disturbed equipment to zones (mounting positions), and separate these spatially from each other.
Plan the cabling in wiring categories according to emissions and susceptibility.

EMC has become an essential quality feature. Even in the development phase of the system, legally stipulated protection requirements and technical risks must be taken into consideration. The following information is important for producing the electromagnetic compatibility of the entire system¹⁾:

1. Filter casing with large-area connection to ground and other metal support construction

For example, provide a common metallically bright mounting plate for filter and converter, fully ground and connect with large area of the switch cabinet at low inductance. If necessary, use short ground straps and EMC seals (for example, connection to switch cabinet doors).

2. Make a distinction between protective earth and ground

Make a distinction between:

the protective conductor connection of the EMC filter;
the large-area grounding of the filter, which is necessary for the interference suppression function of the filter.

3. Create connections in your system with the same reference potential

Create connections in your system with the same reference potential to reduce galvanically coupled interference. All metallic reference potential from casing, machine and system parts should be connected with low impedance, suitable for high frequency and as meshed as possible. Establish large-area metallic connections, use equipotential bonding bars and establish short connections over flat ribbon grounding cables.

Establish large-area metallic connections, use equipotential bonding bars and establish short connections over flat ribbon grounding cables.

There are:

Large-area conductive fixing:
Low-inductance connection (a rectangular copper flat ribbon cable is preferred over round conductors)
Short connections (rule of thumb: Length divided by width < 3)

4. Keep noisy lines as short as possible!

Keep lines from source of interference as short as possible!

Examples:

Short connection from converter to EMC filter, ideally flanged filters to avoid emission.
Interconnections as short as possible between the converter output and motor (even to reduce asymmetric currents through parasitic capacitances of the cable shield).

5. Shielding of noisy lines

Disturbance-contaminated lines must be shielded!
Examples:

Interconnections between frequency converter and motor if a corresponding output filter is not used.
Connection between filter and converter on line side, as long as not directly flanged.
Please note that the shielding effect of differen

6. Large-area shield connection on both ends

Connect shielded lines on both sides and across large area with reference potential, as direct or close as possible to the casing inlet or outlet.

Use:

EMC-compliant cable glands (wrap-around contact)
EMC base plate
EMC shield rails with large area contacting of the cable shield by means of corresponding metal clamps.

Avoid shielded connections via stubs! (Twisted shielding braid; soldered cable lugs etc.)

Also ensure that there is an EMC-compliant cable gland on the terminal box of the motor. These must meet the degree of protection of the respective location of use. The motor terminal box must be made of metal. The connection between the cable gland and terminal box must cover a large area. When removing the coating, the corrosion protect must be re-applied, if necessary.

7. Place EMC filters close to the casing outlet

Examples:

Mains connecting side of the filter protrudes out of casing opening. (Ensure shock hazard protection!)
Use of appropriate EMC filters
Use of corresponding case adjustments to achieve shield attenuation (upon request)

8. Separate noisy and "clean" lines

Provide spatial separation between lines contaminated with disturbances and "clean" lines (lines contaminated with disturbances includes lines between converter and filter, "clean" lines between mains connection and filter).

Avoid parallel running (reduction in coupled disturbances).

Ensure that signal and power cables are run with spatial separation between them in order to prevent coupling lines (recommended minimum distance 20 cm). If necessary, provide metal sheeting; ground this over a wide area.

Run crossings, where possible at a right angle and with spacing.

9. Place lines close to grounded metal areas

To reduce interference couplings, run the lines as close as possible to metal sheeting, which is connected with the reference potential (mounting plates, switch cabinet casing, etc.)

Conductive lines should also be run as closely as possible to the reference potential (reduction in inductively coupled interference).

In order to improve electromagnetic compatibility, cable ducts, cable troughs and installation
pipes made of metal are to be preferred over plastic parts.

10. Signal lines

For unshielded signal lines (supply and return conductors), use twisted 2-wire lines in order to keep the area between the conductors as small as possible (to avoid magnetic coupling). The same applies for avoiding cable loops.

11. Switched inductors

Switched inductors (such as contactors, relays, magnetic valves etc.) should be connected close
to the source of interference with corresponding suppressors.

12. Signal transmission

For control signals in the area of a high interference level, use corresponding switching technology, such as symmetrical transmission systems with twisted wire pairs in connection with data line chokes, transmit digital signals according to the RS-422 standard or in extreme cases, cross the interference area using optical fibres.

13. Pay attention to the installation location of the filters!

Assembly must as a general rule be performed in such a way that natural convection is not impaired. This includes taking louvres in the filter casing and sufficient spacing to other installations into consideration. Overhead assembly is generally excluded. In the case of special installation situations, testing of the thermal conditions is required in consultation with TDK.

14. Acoustic noise minimization

An essential frequency-dependent filter component is the choke with very different core materials. In AC applications, electroacoustic effects are to be expected. The materials and processing technologies used generate a reasonable noise level when maintaining the harmonic components according to the EN 50160 standard for use in industrial areas. These may increase considerably at higher harmonic components. In the case of sensitive applications, such as assembly in offices, consultation from TDK should be considered.

15. Motor lines and motor types

Output voltages are generated in converter applications, which have virtually right angled curve shapes. These are primarily characterised by the rate rise as a dv/dt value and the switching frequency of the converter. The cables and motors in the output network of the converter and their inductive and capacitive components basically define the EMC properties of the system. Resonances of cable and motor combinations can in many cases be found again as resonance of the interference voltage measurement at the converter input side.

The parasitic capacitances of the cable and motor should be given particular attention. While the parasitic capacitances of the motor are dependent on the design, cables are dependent on the insulation material, the cable structure and the type of shielding and particularly on the length. A higher frequency current flows through the earthed system parts depending on the switching frequency, the dv/dt value and the magnitude of the parasitic capacitances.

The following effects may occur here:

As the parasitic currents flow through the ground connections of the system, the total input currents in the filter is no longer equal to zero. This can lead from a certain magnitude of the parasitic current to saturation of the current-compensated chokes in the filter and consequently exceeds the permitted interference level. The interference voltage measurement should be performed at the installed systems.
The parasitic currents also flow via the filter casing and the capacitors connected in the filter to the source of interference. Impermissibly high currents can lead to overload of capacitors and therefore a hazard!

¹⁾The figures in the "Mounting instructions" were provided by Rittal GmbH Co. KG, Herborn as well as Invensys Systems GmbH EUROTHERM, Limburg/ Lahn

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Product Profile

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Technical information

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How to get there

Our Laboratory is located in the west of Regensburg within the factory of Infineon Technologies: Google Maps

By car

Leave the A93 expressway at the Regensburg West exit. Follow Clermont-Ferrand-Allee westwards, heading away from the city. After about 800 meters turn left at the third crossing lights into Messerschmittstrasse, which immediately leads into Wernerwerkstrasse. After 100 meters turn right to the works entrance – you’ve arrived.

By train

From Regensburg central railroad station take bus number 6 or 11 from the Albertstrasse depot next to the station. This takes you direct to Wernerwerkstrasse without changing in 30 minutes.

By plane

From Nuremberg Airport it is about a one-hour drive (100 km) on the A3 express-way to Regensburg. At the Regensburg intersection take the A93 in the direction Weiden/Regensburg. From Munich Airport it takes about one and a half hour by train to Regensburg mains station to continue by bus to the lab or one hour by car (100 km). Take the A9 expressway in the direction Nuremberg. At the Holledau intersection take A93 in the direction Regensburg.

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Christian Paulwitz
Laboratory manager
Tel: +49 89 54020 3282

Simon Scheck
Deputy laboratory manager
Tel: +49 89 54020 3277

EMC Laboratory

Services

Conducted and radiated emission

Conducted and radiated immunity

Laboratory accreditation

EMC solutions, consulting, training

Branches

Automotive

Industry

Lab News

Seminars and Conferences

Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit - Grundlagen

EMC basics

Mounting instructions

1. Filter casing with large-area connection to ground and other metal support construction

1. Filter casing with large-area connection to ground and other metal support construction

2. Make a distinction between protective earth and ground

2. Make a distinction between protective earth and ground

3. Create connections in your system with the same reference potential

3. Create connections in your system with the same reference potential

4. Keep noisy lines as short as possible!

4. Keep noisy lines as short as possible!

5. Shielding of noisy lines

5. Shielding of noisy lines

6. Large-area shield connection on both ends

6. Large-area shield connection on both ends

7. Place EMC filters close to the casing outlet

7. Place EMC filters close to the casing outlet

8. Separate noisy and "clean" lines

8. Separate noisy and "clean" lines

9. Place lines close to grounded metal areas

9. Place lines close to grounded metal areas

10. Signal lines

10. Signal lines

11. Switched inductors

11. Switched inductors

12. Signal transmission

12. Signal transmission

13. Pay attention to the installation location of the filters!

13. Pay attention to the installation location of the filters!

14. Acoustic noise minimization

14. Acoustic noise minimization

15. Motor lines and motor types

15. Motor lines and motor types

Downloads

Product Profile

Technical information

How to get there

By car

By train

By plane

Contact EMC laboratory

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