Impact of PWM switching frequency on the radiated acoustic noise from a traction motor

The radiated acoustic noise from a traction motor at low speeds is dominated by the noise of electromagnetic origin. For a motor operated from pulse width modulated (PWM) converters, the switching frequency of the converter will have a large impact on the noise. The total harmonic distortion of the motor phase currents and thus also the exciting forces, will decrease with increasing switching frequency. Furthermore, changing the switching frequency will shift the frequencies of the exciting forces, hence have an influence on the coincidence with structural resonances of the motor. Tests have been performed on a traction motor and a decrease in sound pressure level with increasing switching frequency has been quantified and analyzed.